The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-02 00:00:00

EVENIN G, MYi.--11C11 2, 1857.

SPOF ,T: CNG NOTES.

THE LIV POOL MEETING.

Despite the dissatisla Alois and complaint; which the
handicap occasioned, tit a Grand National Steeplechase
will be contested by as largo field, and will produce a
race of surpassing intern it. Mr. Topham may therefore
regard with indifferered the adverse criticism which his
task received, and poise; with triumph •to the successful
result of his labours. The most indiscriminate abuse
was certainly heaped unon him by those persons who,
in their zeal for the a 1:1 edition of l'ght weight, seemed to
totally forget or igt a )re the character of the horseh
with which Mr. T, Alain had to deal at Liverpool.
Why, with half a doz r n exceptions, there is not a weight
carrying horse, or on e capable of getting across country
among the nominati x is, and to have adopted a heavy
scale of weights wou hi have been to handicap nearly h-lf
the horses out of the re ice. /dr. Topham unquestionably
exercised a wise di st :retion when he disregarded the
clamours of the many mouthed multitude, and worked
out his own notions with respect to the distribution of
the weights. He r noel!), incurs a heavy pecuniary
risk with his Spring i\leeting at Liverpool, and he bad,
therefore, his own i n terest to consult, and not the pre-
judices of a clique of :turf reformers.
When the saddlin g bell is rung it is estimated that
about twenty-five cm n petitors will be stripped and drawn
up in battle array. F ecent movements have advanced
Escape to the " pren ti ership," and he is likely to retain
office to the end. Pas partisans derive their confidence
from his well-known: jumping qualities, and from his
reputation of being t 1 41 only real first-class steeplechaser
in the race. Yet they require something more consider.
ing the crowd of ligleft-weight competitors Escape will
encounter, and who well cut out the work at a racing
pace. On examinati on of Escape's performances, too,
I have arrived at the goonclusion that he is not so vastly
superior to certain of h sr animals in the race as his sup-
porters would lead us. to infer, and I think he will find
it difficult to cents ae the weights to Minos, Little
Charley, Hopeless Star, Forest Queen, Teddealey,
" Hughes's Lt," and, one or two others. Since Minos
has come into the possession of Mr. Mellish, a great
improvement has certainly been worked in his form and
appearance. Of his; jumping powers wo have had
abundant proof, and le the country were a little " stiffer"
at Aintree, I should select him unconditionally.
The running of Wrsatrninster at Derby has canted
increased attention to be directed to Hughes's lot,
and which ever is th s best of that lot will assuredly
attain a forward position. Little Charley and Hopeless
Star I have already ;indicated as being " well in ;" to
state their special clef:sus to attention would only occupy
space to little purponer, as the reader is already familiar
with them. Of the " French horses"—or rather the
English horses with French names—l have no expecta-
tions. Emigrant has since the exhibition of First of
May at Derby encountered violent hostility. Still I
confess that I have to a certain extent the " fondness"
of his owner. That the horse has some stuff in him we
have bad frequent proofs, and I shall be both surprised
and disappoieted if he be not in the first flight of com-
petitors at the finish.

" Barring accidents,"—that very necessary proviso in
dealing with steeplechases—l shall Expect to see Minos,
Little Charley and the hest of Hughes's lot foremost at
the finish. Of the outsiders I prefer Teddesley and
Forest Queen.

Gitana and Bashi Bazouk have monopolised nearly all
the little betting that has taken place on the Spring Cup.
If Fordbam can get himself down to the weight he will
doubtless have the mount on Gitana, whom I shall be
inclined to let do battle for we. For the Aintree Plate
Assayer and "Barber and Saxon's two"—(Tom Thumb
and Miss Harkaway)—seem the most attractive. On the
Sefton Handicap I shall not express aniopinion, as the
result of the race will depend upon the running on
Tuesday.

By the way I have been requested to state that the
Mr. Barr who advertises to execute commissions, &c., is
not the Mr. Barr the well-known and respected member
of Tattergall's.
March 2.

Racing Fixt.