The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-04 00:00:00

SPORTING NOTES.

The racing last week was scarcely above mediocrity;
but the Nottingham Race Committee deserve the highest
encomiums for the extensive improvements they have
made throughout the Grand Stand and Betting enclosure,
which, combined with the surounding scenery, now makes
acorn) of the finest courses in the country.

The Liverpool Meeting extends to four days, in con-
sequence of the Grand Military Races taking place over the
Aintree Course on Thursday and Friday.
Five of Tuesday's engagements out of no less than
eight, which appear in the programme, aro complete for
analysis. As is usually the case, there is no public guide
to the winner of the Tyro Stakes, only one of the sixteen
nominations having yet faced the starter's flag. It may
not be uninteresting to note how many different sires are
represented amongst the entries, viz., Trumpeter, Loup
Garou, Caractacus, Stockwell, Dundee, High Treason
Amsterdam, Knight of Kars, Neville, Van Galen, Thor-
manby, Vedette, Tower, The Prime Minister, and Mildew ;
in fact, with the exception of Lord Coventry's two, all
are by different stallions. Having heard favourable ac-
counts of b'EDELLA and MR. MERIT'S REPRESENTATIVE,
I think they will be found most trustworthy.
It looks any odds on Cnowx PRINCE or LA
MAUDITE for the Aintree Plate, and unless Lady Pam
should be brought out one of Lord Westmorland's three—
INDIAN STAR, ULPILUS, or the ROCK—is bound to win the
Mersey Cup. The Annual Hardie Handicap has 42 horses
engaged, of which the most favourably handicapped appear
to be Fortunatus, Helen, Brahma, Real Jaw, Fan,
and Lord Coventry's pair. Should FAN not be reserved
for the Grand National, I have the most fancy for her;
next to whom REAL JAM and Lord Coventry's representa-
tive must do battle for me. So much depends upon the
start for the Spring Flying Stakes that it is next to an
impossibility to hazard a successful conjecture; but if
FLYING Jan, who won this race with only 81b. less on
her back last year, gets well off, she ought to be about
winning, although WISEMAN is almost equally well in.
There is any quantity of sport sot sport set down for
Wednesday, the all important event of the meeting, the
world-renowned Grand National Steeplechase, having to
be decided on that day. Out of the acceptances, although
several of them have already paid forfeit, there will doubt-
less be an unusual number of starters paraded before
the Earl of Sefton, who officiates on such occasions. My
impression is that many of the runners will only assist
to swell the field; and are not at all likely to interfere with
the result. At any rate, the underneath list contains all
those animals whose chances I think it necessary to dis-
cuss :--

HORSE. ago st lb RIDER.
Astrolabe
Hall Court a 12 3
Cortolvin
Globule a 11 7
Plover
Shakspeare
Dermot Asthore .. 6 10 12 j Mr. Crawshaw.
Lightbeart a 11 1
Glasgow 6 10.13 }- E. Jones.
Balham a 10 13
Shangarry a 10 13 / Mr. Thomas.
f
Clansman
Little Frank a 10 13
Sea King a 10 11
Tennyson 5 10 10
Chimney Sweep.. 510 10 }G. Stevens.
Doctor 6 10 8
Havelock 6 10 3
Silver Star a 10 9
King Arthur
Little Wideawake a 10 3
Fan 5 10 3
Duke (h b) a 10 3

It will be perceived amongst others the names of Colum-
bia, Surney, and Whitehall do not appear, for the simple
reason that I doubt any of them running. Astrolabe is
honoured with top weight, but her performances abroad
and her •running at Croydon in the Grand Metropolitan
Steeplechases with Globule last winter certainly entitle
her to the distinction, and I quite expect, if the ground
continues in good order, to see her obtain a
situation, if not the place of honour. Hall
Court is no fancy of mine. Cortolvin has
been backed for large sums of money, and from his
running last year will take a great deal of beating,
but the 71b additional weight on his back to what
he then carried is not likely to improve his chance.
Globule will take a deal of beating. The Plover I
know nothing about. Shakspere and Dermot Asthore
will both run, though they represent the same interests.
The former is evidently the " intended" of the stable,
which his antecedents warrant him in being, but it is as
well to have " two strings to a bow," and should any
mishap befal the tragedian, the latter will be favourably
heard of in the race. Lightheart and Glasgow belong
to Mr. A. W. Clayton, and the selected one of the pair
will, I expect, turn out the best outsider in the race. The
first named horse ran fourth, carrying 41b more for this
event last March, and if his stable companion should
prove the real " Simon Pure," he will take a great deal
of beating. It should not be forgotten that he won the
Hunt Cup Steeplechase in a canter from Sprite at the
Warwick November Meeting in 1865, when only 1 yrs
old, and he is Well bred enough, by De Clare out of Miss
Whip, for anything. Balham will not do in this com-
pany. Mr. Studd's lot aro Shangarry, Clansman, De-
spatch (h b), and Sensation (h b), but I think only
the CREWKERN'E winner and Clansman are likely to repre-
sent his interests on the day. Of the two I have a decided
preference for Shangarry, who reads very dangerous.
Mr. Studd naturally grumbled, before the Grand Na-
tional was run last year, at the weight put on Salamander,
in comparison with Creole, Merrimac, and one or two other
public performers; but this journey he might have been
asked to handicap for himself. Of Little Frank the most
favourable reports continue to reach me, and I should ad-
vise him to be kept on the right side; at the same time, he
will probably find this company too good for him. Sea
King will, of course, run for Mr. Brayley, as Ibex is doing
very little work. His Majesty ran very badly at Birming-
ham the other day; still, if any demonstration should be
made on his behalf, it would not surprise me to see him
at the winner's heels. My information leads me to
suppose that The Doctor will do battle for Lord Co-
ventry's stable, and be ridden by George Stevens, whose
fine riding is sure to make him figure conspicuously in the
van. Havelock, after running at Birmingham, looked like
starting one of the favourites, but no one will have him
after his refusal to jump at Lincoln. It is not yet decided
who is to have the mount. With a resolute jockey up,
however, his chance is by no moans a forlorn ono.
Silver Star is not likely to shine hero; but I think King
Arthur has a great chance. Fan has come with a rattle
in the market, and, backed as she evidently is by her
astute owner, is likely to prove ♦ery dangerous. The
Duke belongs to the Earl of Eglinton, and all I can say
about him is, that his lordship's success would be enthusi-
astically welcomed by all classes of sportsmen, in memory
of old times. Having gone into these details, let me con-
clude by choosing Shakspeare, Globule, Shangarry, and
Fan to beat the field, and finally, to anticipate the judge's
decision, I will place
SIIAKSPEARE 1
S HANGARRY 2
FAN 3
It is impossible to say which of his lot will be brought out
for The Sefton Handicap by the Earl of Westmorland, but
it seems a good thing for ono or two of this division. The
Welter Cup should g 2 to BRIMSTONE or BRICK. The
other races on the same day are not worth interfering
with.

The Steeplechase Handicap on Thursday depends too
lunch upon previous running for me to hazard a conjecture
about, so I shall at once turn my attention to the Liverpool
Spring Cup, run the same day. Honesty will beat all the
top weights ; Dulcimer and Mrs. Allan aro best in of the
middle division; and Chance and Foresight of the 3-yr-
olds. Of course a groat deal depends upon the intentions
of owners.
A FRESH MAN.

NOTES

7/(ost
TRAINING QUARTERS.

(THIS DAY.)

NEWMARKET.

We have had nice refreshing rains, but the weather is
very cold. Nevertheless, horses and mon are all busy
here. Gilbert is giving D'Estournal a good steady prepa-
ration, and the horse does his mile and a half gallop, led by
Leybourne, remarkably well. Sealskin looks uncommonly
well, and is schooling Ravioli and Moleskin, who aro also
getting very forward. Friponnier takes Van Amburgh
along; and, after a couple of canter', The Rake gallops
over a mile and a quarter, still working by himself. The
Hermit and Knight of the Garter continue steadily together ;
and both Pedagogue and Tempest are striding along. Julius,
Avron, Flying Scud, and Borubastes aro going on Etat-

rate, and are getting into faster and longer work. Dragon
for the last day or two has not done quite so much as pre-
viously, but is exceedingly well, as are also Enchanteur
Cerf `"plant, and Trocadero, the last trio doing over a
mile and a quarter gallops. Ariel, liontagnard, Auguste,
and Plutus do very little at present. Jasper, Camilla,
Falkenstein, Tourmalin, Lothario, and Ilippia are bowling
along merrily; and Tormentor is taking the Duke of
York a mile and a half each morning.