The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-31 00:00:00

SPORTING OPINIONS.

(From the Sporting Gazette.)
Northampton races take place on Tuesday and
Wednesday, the bill of fare for the two days extending
to 17 races, nice of which are appointed for Tues-
day. The principal races for the opening day are
the Northamptonshire Stakes, the Whittlebury, a
Sweepstakes for Two Year Olds, and the North-
amptonshire Cup Stakes, and an early commence-
ment will be necessary to get through so many
races, as we had proof on Tuesday, at Epsom, when,
owing to the great delay in starting the horses,
it was found necessary to postpone the Heathcote
Plate to the following day. The acceptances for
the Northamptonshire Stakes was most flattering to
the handicapper, as fifty-five, of the ninety-six
horses weighted, remained in ; but, nevertheless,
owing to some being scratched and others found
wanting, the field will hardly comprise more than
fiftee❑ horses. We have seen no fewer than thirteen
of those engaged run this year—viz., Lucifer for
the Nottingham Spring Handicap, Sister to Vedette
for the Spring Cup at Liverpool, Christmas Carol
and Tormentor for the Great Warwickshire Handi-
cap, Stradbrokc and Thalia for the City and
Suburban, and Blueskin, Moutagnard, Stephen
Langton, Nine Elms, Guy of Warwick, and
Mariner, for the Great Metropolitan, the greater
number of whom cut up so badly that there
will be no occasion to discuss the chances of more
than Lucifer, Christmas Carol, Tormentors Blue-
skin, and Montgnard. Christmas Carol and Tor-
mentor meet at only 11b difference to what they
carried at Warwick, but though the former won by
three lengths, I think if the Oaks winner of 1866
has done sufficient work since then she will turn the
tables on the Stanton horse. I question if she can
quite win though, as the weight she is burdened
with being rather more than she will like over this
severe course. Ackworth ran only once last year—
viz.; at York for the Ebor Handicap, when he looked
as well as the day he left Danebury, and as
I hear he is now in a blooming condition, he ought
to hold a forward place in the contest, as I believe
he never lost the good form he once possessed.
Lord of the Dales may run, but from what we saw
of him in November at Danebury, he cannot be near
fit, and will only hurt those who back him in his
present condition. Though I have enumerated him
among the probable starters, I hardly expect to see
him at the post. Wolsey, if he starts, is about
to try and get a distance he never ran before, his
performances being confined to short courses. Last
year, it will be remembered, he was second to Tib-
thorpe at Goodwood, giving him 141 b, and receiving
81b. from Lozenge, he was beaten by the latter for
the Cambridgeshire, after running a dead heat.
Many good judges are of opinion that the horse able
to get the Cambridgeshire course can stay over a
longer one, which may turn out to be so in Wolsey's
case ; but I would not on that account be justified
in recommending him, and though I expect to see
him run well, I must look elsewhere for the win-
ner. Lucifer will stay the course, and as he
ran well at Nottingham, when not near wound up,
I shall expect to see him finish in the front rank.
Ailesbury would, in my opinion, like a less se-
vere course, but as he is fancied by the Epsom
division he had better be kept harmless. Lord
Hastings is nicely weighted, but as he was last
year no better than King of the Fairies, he must
have improved immensely if he can take the prize
to Middleham. Roquefort, as well as Blueskin, is
likely to represent Mr. Savile, for cleverly though
the latter won the Great Metropolitan, this race is
no certainty for him, should Montagard run, as
the French horse meets him on 101 b more favour-
able terms than at Epsom, which ought very
nearly to turn the tables. Roquefort I conse-
quently consider to have the 15est chance. Leap
Year had some form about him last year, but I
fancy he would like a less severe course. Beauty is
very heavily weighted for a three year old, but as
she stays well she cannot be out of it, after what
Speculum did in the City and Suburban. Finally,
my opinion is that the race will fall to Ackworth
or Lord Hastings, next to whom I expect to see
Lucifer. In the Whittlebury, though the entry
is not so numerous as I have known it,
there are several good horses engaged, viz.,
Athena, Speculum, and De Vere, who are
penalised 71b. ; Blue Gown, Beauty, and
Lietor 51b., and Belphegor and Lure 31b. each ;
whilst so many of the others take a maiden allow-
ance of 51b, that it is not easy to select the winner ;
but as neither Blue Gown uor Speculum will, I be-
lieve, run, I think the race will lie between ATHENA
and BEAUTY, despite the penalties they have to
carry, and I think the former is entitled to the
preference. In their absence it may fall to Eleonara
or Coup d'Eclat, both of whom possess plenty of
speed. For the Two Year Old Sweepstakes,

twenty-one youngsters have been nominated, in-
cluding Curieuse, winner of the Brocklesby ; De
Vere, winner of a sweepstakes at Lincoln and the
Two Year Old Stakes at Epsom ; Hilda, winner of
the Little John Stakes at Nottingham, the Har-
rington Stakes at Derby, the Tyro at Liverpool,
_ _ .

and both the two year old- races at Warwick ; and
Lure, winner of the Walton Stakes at Epsom. The
two former are penalised 71b, and both the other
31b. Most of the others are " dark," so I can give
no opinion respecting them, beyond stating that the
filly by Trumpeter out of Farfalla ought to be able
to hold her own in any company. As she can-
not, however, be very fit, my vote must be for
_ _ _

Hilda, who I expect to see turn the tables on her
Lincoln conqueror, Curieuse, who has now to give
her 41b. In the Northamptonshire Cup Stakes
fourteen horses are engaged, of such very mode-
rate form that I think it will fall to The
Pope and Rampart, as the old horses can
hardly give them the weight they have to do.
The three that I consider best in the Stand Plate
are Goojerat, 5 yrs, Bst 31b ; Wild Briar, 5 yrs,
7st 71b ; and Cornet, 3 yrs, Gst 71b ; and Monarch
of the Glen, 5 yrs, Bst •61b ; Flying Jib, 5 yrs, 7st
121 b ; and Harrogate, 4 yrs, 7st 101 b, ought to
have as good a chance as anything for the Delapree
Free Handicap, a race which has often told the
winner of the Spencer Plate.

The largest field of the meeting will doubtless
figure in the scurry for the Earl Spencer's Plate,
five furlongs, on the second day, and some down-
right " clippers" promise to enter the lists. Ves-
pasian, Tibthorpe, and Laird of Scotland are my
choice.

The St. Liz, one mile and a quarter, is almost as
open an event as the chief handicap, but either
Wolsey or Louis of Hesse should win.

For the Althorp Park States, for two-yearsolds,
half a mile, many a " Derby horse " has made its

debut; and De Vere (71b extra), Cd'urieuse (71b
extra),:and Lure (31b extra), are not likely to cause
any respectable youngster being kept in the stable.

De Vere is also in the 20 Sovs. Sweepstakes, and,
being unpenalised, he might prefer that journey, as
the task appears comparatively easy.
The Grand National Hunt Meeting at Bedford is
greatly benefited by being enabled to follow on to

Northampton races, as otherwise the programme

might not have been considered attractive

enough with such a paucity of entries for the

minor events. But most of the fifteen in the Grand

National Ifunt Steeplechase, for which 250 sovs

are added, will probably enter the lists ; and it will
be a treat if only the Doctor and Alcihiade contest

the Kimbolton StakPs.

In the Grand National

Handicap (300 sous added money) Alcibiade is

reckoned the better of the twain, and we cannot
help thinking the Doctor bas a great chance there,
for all his 12st 41b, the most threatening of his

opponents being the Tiger and King Arthur,

SHOCKING ACCIDENT TO A BALLET GIRL.—On
Friday evening, March 20, at Day's Crystal Palace Con-
cert Hall, Srnallbrook-street, Birmingham, when the whole
of the ballet girls were on the stage, one of them named
Fanny Smith, struck with a wand the wick of a lamp
which was fixed on a pedestal about seven feet high. A
portion of the wick, saturated with spirits of wine, fell
upon her dress, and it ignited directly, and in a moment
she was enveloped in flames. She rushed off the stage
and then on, and then off again, and was at length rolled
in a man's coat, and the fire was extinguished, not, how-
ever, until she was dreadfully burned all over the body
The sight of the girl in flames appeared to cause a panio
amongst the audience, who rushed wildly to the doors.
The entrance having lately been very much widened, the
hall was soon cleared of the greater portion of the audience
The tudvrtuuttte girl expired QLI Nonclay morning.