The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-08 00:00:00

SPORTING OPINIONS.

(From the Sportsman.)

The \lrate!loo Cup quotations show little or no
change since I last wrote, 100 to 6 being still cur-
rently offered on the field. Lord Lurgan's nomina-
tion, however, seems to be in most demand for
money, as; whenever there is a chance of obtaining
20 to 1, takers are found in plenty ready and willing
to operate. The nomination of Lord Sefton is also
the subject of continual inquiry, and 'presents
every. appearance of speedily joining the 20 to
1 division. To-day 25 to 1 would have been
freely accepted in several quarters had the price
been obtainable, hut the bookmakers persistently
declined to mak.) any advance upon 20 to 1. Mr.
Blanchard's nomination was entrusted with a little
money at 25 to 1, and 30 to 1 was asked for about
Mr. Lister's, but not more than 25 to 1 was offered.
The nomination of Lord Stair was in general re-
quest at 33 to 1, and that of Mr. Spinks would have
received substantial support at 40 to 1, but in the
latter case no business was effected, 1000 to_3o being
the best bid.

(From the Sporting Life.)

The movements on the Two Thousand since my
last have neither been important nor significant.
Rosicrucian has, by common consent, taken his
position at the head of the betting and Sir Joseph
Hawley's commission is apparently exhausted at the
price ; and while 9 to 4 is offered about the son of
Beadsman, backers are ready to take 5 to 2
about him. Backers of Pace (who has been
steadily supported for some time) can obtain no
higher price than 8 to 1, and 9 to 1 would be taken
about him. Those who prefer to follow " good men"
may like to know that Mr. Steel is seemingly a
warm partisan of Pace for the Derby, and on Wed-
nesday at the Club, after that leviathan bookmaker
had accepted 500 to 35 twice, he loudly proclaimed
his desire to back Pace to win him £2,000 more,
but was not accommodated. It is a bad thing to op-
pose such well-informed operators, but I am assured
that the stable absolutely consider Pace to be " slow
and puddling"—the identical words which he used
in describing his chance. The name of that high-
priced impostor, St. Ronan, has cropped up in the
Two Thousand betting, and 1,000 to 26 is taken about
the lumbering son of St. Albans and Elspeth. After
the Stockbridge Meeting this horse was backed to
win a great sum of money for the Derby, but his
proving another Hermit to Mr. Chaplin seems out
of the question. An offer of 40 to 1 was made
against Blue Gown for the Guineas, but in the pre-
sent position of Rosicrucian it seems literally any
odds against " the Gown." Apart, however, from
the favouritism of his stable-companions, there is
evidently something seriously amiss with " the
Gown," who has been absent from his exercise
ground for weeks.

(From Bell's Life.)

Plenty of matter has been stirring of late to keel
the racing world on the qui vice, and the season't,
near approach is indicated by many signs. It ma)
almost be consilered as under way, in fact, the in-
dustrious ones having been fairly started at Car-
marthen, though they will have nothing but steeple-
chasing to keep them going till Lincoln. This
description of sport, however, has now a faster
hold on the racing public, perhaps, than ever it
had, no further proof being needed of its popu
larity than the speculation the Liverpool Grand
.National is creating, in the face of the great " legiti-
mate" events that were simultaneously with it thrust
upon society. It is plain that until the contest is
over wo shall hear very little of the Northampton
Stakes or City and Suburban Handicaps that used
"to fairly rival the Chester Cup iu the amount of
interest created, but which have at present been as
dead letters even as the Newmarke t or " Metrop,"
or the more modern St. Liz. Slow as the business
is, the betting at the clubs on the old-established
Cestrian prize has.* this week already ex-
tended over some twenty animals —a fat
greater number than have been introduced for
the Lincolnshire Handicap or the Waterloo
Coursing Cup; and the pencils have not been idle
over the three year oil races since our last. Rosi-
crucian is still all the rage for the Two Thousand,
only the bold bets of 1,000 to 600 and 500 to 300
laid " with a start" having had the effect of steady-
ing him at all, or keeping him at a reasonable price;
nevertheless, he cannot fairly maintain his plat
alongside the Lady for the Derby, and there are
not a few good judges who would prefer tL,
stand Green Sleeve to him for both his races
did the market allow. harvester's arrival at Newo
market has not much altered the aspect of affairs
with reference to M. Da.wson's lot, having created
far less stir than had been anticipated ; and we may
have a far greater sensation when another darkie—
who shall be nameless, for he is the son of a pirate
and a peeress changes his quarters, and joins
Viscount at Whitewall. We may go so far as
to hint he is a relative of one " Paul" (not the
one who recently went to Davey's locker
—and, we hope, took something out), ha§
Wintered well, and will not prove a Mid-
summer colt, if he is nearly so good
as he looks ; but what his capabilities are
is a point not yet proven, and it may happen after
all that the lowest whisperings concerning him die
away when he has been " asked a question." There
are just as " dark" things among the host in the
Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase, a question
of more immediate importance, and one that we
purpose discussing in detail this week, so as to com-
plete our series of articles on the great spring events
before the season commences. No light was thrown
upon by the recent doings in Wales, only Fly-
fisher of the whole lot engaged performing there,
and he figured so badly as to render it very impro-
bable lie will put in an appearanee at Aintree.