The Sun.
London, England, 1867-02-11 00:00:00

SPORTING NO t ES.

There is at present every appearance of fine weather for
the Birmingham Steeplechases, which, from their central
position, will doubtless obtain for Mr. John Sheldon, the
well known clerk of the course, an unusual amount of pa-
tronage, as the majority of bookmakers and most sporting
men are evidently tired of their prolonged inactivity. The
commencement of the season is invariably attended with
most difficulties to those persons who, like myself, endea-
vour to give advice on forthcoming events, but with
the resources at my command from.the different training
quarters throughout the country, more than twenty years'
experience on the turf, and an anxious desire to promote
the interest of your subscribers, I have confident hopes
of giving them an unusual number of the "good things"
which fall to backers of horses during the season.
For the Erdington Plate, run on Tuesday, Fly Fisher
is honoured with 12st 71b, which in my opinion effectu-
ally settles his pretensions. Meanwood, with 9st loss on
his back, is not badly off, nor is Accident overweighted at
list 71b, but the latter will most probably be kept for a
better stake. The next pair, one of which I think most
likely to win, are KING OF HEARTS and SIR WILLIAM,
each handicapped at list 21b, the former of whom will
prefer the distance of this course—three miles—to the
extra half mile he will have to travel the next day for the
Grand Annual. COMBERTON looks the most likely candi-
date for the Hunt Cup, but the Hunters' Plate is a sealed
book to me, and it is beyond my powers of divination to
say which is likely to bo the winning horse or the lucky
rider thereof, and the consequent recipient of the gold
mounted whip, which is an adjunct to the stake. The
Maiden Hunt Plato is not entered for, and in the Sutton
Handicap Plate I see nothing better in than old JACOB.
Wednesday's racing includes the Licensed Victuallers'
Plate, and of course depends a great deal upon the previous
day's running, but VINDICATOR, well at the post, looks
worth backing. Of the 41 candidates for the Grand Annual
Steeplechase, I prefer the following lot, viz., Meanwood,
Tiger, Arlescott, Sprite, King of Hearts, Little Peter, and
Sea King. lam satislied,..however, staying is not Mea.n7
wood'sfi•te. The ground is sure to be heavy, and is sure
to suit Tiger. Arlescott, provided ho has recovered
from the effects of his accident at Carmarthen last week,
looks dangerous; Sprite is very well, and is bound
to run forward. King of Hearts I have alreaiy alluded to.
Sea King has been kept to win a good stake, which he is
sure to do the first time of asking. He is, however,
amongst the acceptances for the Liverpool Grand National
Steeplechase, and Ni ill very likely be reserved for that
event. Should LITTLE PETER face the starter's flag,
knowing him to be a good horse, I have most faith in him,
next to whom I fancy Arlescott and Tiger.
The Windsor Steeplechase Committee have issued an
attractive programme for Friday and Saturday next. The
principal race on the second day, the Open Handicap
Steeplechase, has BANKER engag,ed,whose most dangerous
opponent appears tobo SPRITE, between which pair I fancy
taica ;
partisans but m 1
make
do
it not
out t h
to in
the struggle will be.
Christmas Carol continues first favourite for the Lincoln-
shireint HTreasure
ethecer-
y hisHandicap
Trove,
who is very fit and well, might prove a thorn in his side,
e it
i s
T
and it is by no means clear to me that ho can successfully
give, the weight lie is handicapped at to Problem or
Leases.

A FRESH MAN•

FROM A NEWMARKET CORRESPONDENT.

Copious rain has fallen here nearly every night, which
has rendered the training grounds on both sides very heavy
going. The Rake has been taking some steady canters,
doing quite sufficient work in fact, considering the state of
the ground and that it wants more than three months to the
Derby. I told your readers in my last communication to
wait a little longer, and not take any liberty with him,
because there is still a great probability of Joseph Dawson
being able to bring him sound and fit to run for the groat
event on Epsom Downs. We are told that he is a very
unfortunate horse ; but, as in the case of Lord Glasgow,
it does not appear quite an appropriate term. The noble
Earl alluded to, at any rate took exception to, such a
remark being applied to him in connection with the few
races ho Won, upon the very good ground that, with an
income of sixty thousand a - year, he could not be
unfortunate. The term applied to the above-named ani-
mal is equally incorrect, he having won in a canter on
the only two- occasions he has appeared in public. I
could well undertand Yellow Jack being placed in this
category, as I believe he ran second for the Two Thousand
Guineas, Chester Cup, and Derby. The Hermit has also
been doing some steady canters every morning, and as he
is not only sound, but looks the picture of health (except
being a little " fleshy)," his price for the Two Thousand
Guineas is not a satisfactory one. Not being in the secrets
of the prison house, I cannot tell whether ho runs for the
Guineas or will turn out a second Chattanooga, to be up
and down in the market for each race and then scratched
at the last moment. The Squire of Blankney asserted,
some time ago, that he had not backed the horse, and
had not made up his mind if he should run him for his
Newmarket engagement or not. Ho can get plenty of
money on now, and there is plenty of time to prepare
him, but it is to be hoped if Mr. Chaplin does not intend
to run the animal, he will, by at once striking him out
of this engagement, keep him in seclusion some time longer.
The Knight of the Garter is all right again, and will go
into work in a day or two, but there is no doubt the Hermit
is at least a 7th better horse, and the stable must have
an extraordinary chance of winning, should they make up
their minds to run the latter.
Chris. Green gave us a treat last Monday morn-
ing, over a steeple chase course he has had made on a
farm at the back of the Limekilns, for training his
jumpers. He rode his old favourite horse, Reporter, and
two of his stable boys were on King of Hearts and Grace
Darling. I never saw the veteran ride better in my life,
and was surprised when lie told me he was nearly fifty
years of age. But it is a pity the services of such a really
line horseman should be lost to the public GO soon. The
King of Hearts is very well, and will most likely run for
the Birmingham Steeple Chase, where his chance looks
second to none. His half-brother, The Ace of Hearts,
trained by Green, ran second for the race last year, but I
think the King has a better heart than the Ace, and will
most likely pull through.
The acceptances for the Lincoln Handicap number 47
three of whom have sines paid forfeit— Pyrrhic, La
Dauphine, and Battliyany. Had the latter remained in he
would, no doubt, have been a great favourite, still his great
striding action will be more suited to a straight course,
and he will win a race before the year is over, when his
owner backs him. Ttie Duke, who heads the list with 9st
91b, will most likely be an absentee, as the ground is sure
to be heavy—and to run a good horse with such a steadier
would bo bad judgment. Volunteer, Sutton, Saccharome-
ter, Kangaroo, Honesty, and Wild Agnes are an too heavily
weighted. I see they back old Sac., but old horses seldom
improve with time, and Wild Agnes would like three-
quarters better than a mile, therefore I must look lower
down for the winner. The Beadle is not badly in, as he
showed us at Warwick that he can get through dirt; he
has done plenty of work, is fit to run, and if his noble
owner backs him he will be one of the first three._ ,

Christmas Carol is a rattling favourite, but I don't lik