The Sun.
London, England, 1868-05-09 00:00:00

SPORTING OPINIONS.

There is plenty of work cut out for the racing voyageur,
as York and Winchester are fixed for Tuesday and Wed-
nesday, and Doncaster and Salisbury for Thursday and
Friday. The programmes of the whole four meetings give
promise of some excellent racing, particularly at York and
Salisbury, which are sure to hare the lion's share of the
company. The York list for the first day extends to six
races, four of which are ripe for discussion—viz., the Zot-
land Stakes, the Great Northern Handicap, the Knave-
smire Plate, and the Union Hunt Plate ; the remaining
events being the Craven Stakes and the Stand Stakes, both
of which close the evening preceding.
In the Zetland Stakes twenty-nine two year olds are en-
gaged, of whom FITZWILLIAM, Sister to Hermit, De Vere,
Olarionette, and Retort have all shown in public that they
can race; but from what 1 have heard, I believe the first
named, who is by Blair Athol° out of Jest, to be by far the
best.

The Great Northern Handicap is a race likely to be
only second in interest to the great event recently run on
the Roodee, as four of the horses that figured prominently
in that contest are engaged. From all I can learn the field
will comprise the following :
Ago st lb Trainer.
Strathconan 5 8 12
Regalia
Blinkhoolie
Westwick

Strafford's dam horse 5 7 12
Paul Jones

Beauty
Fortunio
Beanstalk
Giant des Batailles
Landscape .....
Ajax 3 . 5 8 ...... Private
Tho Gleaner
Of the above Strathconan, Paul Jones, and Beauty
we saw run on Wednesday in the Chester Cup,
which Paul Jones won easily, but as he has now to meet
Strathconan on 151 b, Beauty on 19113 worse terms than
when they ran on the Roodee, it is my opinion
that the latter will at all events turn the tables on him, if
not the former ; and if his owner has any expectation of
his winning the Derby, it is my conviction that Paul
Jones will not run for this race. Regalia, if her recent
visit to Trumpeter restores to her the fine condition and
gameness she displayed in the race for the Gold Cup at
Ascot, I should not look beyond her for the whiner. How
she is now I am not aware, but if trusted by the stable o❑
the day I should advise backers to follow suit; at the
same time, they must remember that Mr. Graham Las
another string to his bow in Beanstalk, who ran far from
indiffer ntly in the Prince of Wales Stakes at New-
market, for which ho was second t..) TaraLan ; he may
turn out the " Simon Pure" of the stable. Blinkhoolie,
it will be remembered, was my choice for the City
and Suburbin, but as the stable put their trust in Knight
of the Garter, he was not up to the mark when
ho ran. Subsequently we saw his form at Southampton,
in the dead heat for the Queen's Plate, wherein he gave
Blueskin 261 b. This was undoubtedly good form, consi-
dering how easily Mr. Savile's horse won the Metropoli-
tan ; but as the latter, at Creston Park, was defeated for
the Belvoir Castle Stakes by Geant des Battaillee, the latter
ought now to hold Mr. Chaplin's horse safe, as he will be
in receipt of 321 b from him. Then, according to last year's
form, Westwick ought to beat Blinkhoolie, as it will be re-
membered that in the Cesarewitch ho gave the son of Ra-

rmo N.... 4d.
ETA lIPED 61.

taplan and Queen Mary 181 b, whilst the latter has now to
give the Whitewall horse 21b. Fortunio has run four
times, his beat performance being in the Great Ebor Han-
dicap, for which he was about fourth best, finishing close
to Challenge, who was giving him 201 b, a perfermance,
indifferent as it appeared at the time, that must
give him a great chance here, as it would be like
putt:ng in the ex; atriated son of Trumpeter at
7st 111 b, at which weight he would have plenty of backers
Landscape ran a fair horse in the Two Year OM Stakes
at Doncaster, won by Pace, and if he has trained on his
chance is not out ; nor is that of Ajqs, who, I am told,
has wintered well, and is a much improved horse. From
this curt survey of the chances of the several horses above
named it will be seen that I lean to
WESTWICK
to furnish the winner, believing that his most dangerous
oppments aro likely to be BEAUTY aad GEAST DES BA-
TAILLES.

The Knavesinire Plate is for two and three year olds,
no fewer than twenty-three of whom are engaged, with a
likelihood of its falling to LADY ZETLAND, 3 yrs, or SISTER
TO HERMIT, 2 yrs, the latter for choice.

In the Union Hunt Plate there are eight horses en-
gaged, the two best of whom are ROSSINOTON and HELEN.

The Flying Dutchman's Handicap, oue mile ani a
quarter, looks like falling to Corporal, 4 yrs, ist 12tb, or
Python, 4 yrs, ist 21b, who, perhaps, will have something
to fear from Miss Harriette, 5 yrs, Est 101 b ; and Edinburgh,
6 yrs, Bst 31b, and Kettleholder, 3 yrs, 6st 101 b, are our
choice of the baker's dozen nominated for the Loucks-
borough Cup, T.Y.C..

The Doncaster list has six races for Thursd:Ly and eight
for Friday, and on the first day the Trial Stakes, T.Y.C.,
is a certainty for Uncas if he starts.

The Hopeful Stakes, for two year olds, about five furlongs
will, perhaps, bring out the colt by Bhqhttla,ole, out of Jest,
and De Vere, in opposition, and the s ruggh will b 3 in-
teresting if Gleumore, Lure, and Glen Avon, take part in
it. Glenmore can improve upon his recent Newmarket
form, but we shall stand with the Jest colt and De Vere,
and entertain the most regard for the last-named. The
Spring Handicap, St. Leger Course, at present looks like
a certainty fur Beauty, 3 yrs, Bst 31b ; and if she does not
run there will be some hopes of the Vixen gelding, 4 yrs
Bst 21b, and Sawyer, 3 yrs, ist 121 b.
In the Hunters' Stakes, two miles on the flat, there are
some good ones at the business among the quarter of a
hundred nominated—namely, Elvire, Marksman, Verdi,
Comuc, Donato, Esmeralda, Primrose, Castanette, and Ad-
vertisement, of whom I prefer Counts and Marksman.

The Betting Room Stakes, for two and three year olds,
Rod House iv, will be virtually settled by the running for
the Hopeful Stakes.
The Yorkshire St. Leger, for hunters, St.. Leger Course
looks like to Scarrington ; and Troubadour and The Ruck,
apparently, havo the Free Handicap Hurdle Ra4e, two
miles and a half, between them.

The Salisbury gathering is gonentl'y a very popular
affair with the Southern fraternity, and this time some
spirited speculation will take place on the Wilthhire Stakes,
two miles. After the recent form displayed by Paul Jones,
Philosopher, 3 yrs, Gst 121 b, must be dangerous, and the
company will be bitter suited to StradbrokA, 4 yrs, Gst
101 b than was that at Chester. • The pair named, with Wild
Briar, 5 yra, Gst 101 b ; the Maid of Masham mare, 5 yrs,
6st 81b; Prince It.gent, 3 yrs, Gst 81b (inc. Glb extra); Mr
Briggs, 3 yrs, Gst; and Fair Star, 3 yrs, sst 91b, are the
pick of the handicap, and we shall Stand with St►adbroke
and Philosopher. •
The bill of fare for Winchester is the best ever issued
by the managers of that popular meeting, as all the closed
races have received unprecedented large entries; and
doubtless those that have yet to be named for will be quite
as well patronised. In the Three Year Old Biennial 36
horses are engaged. and it appears a certainty for the
Danebury stable with EUROPA, Cock of the Walk, or
Herald, the former of whom is entitled to a long prefer-
ence.

For the Citizens Plate, 28 horses have been weighted to
run half a wile, and the three best in I consider to be
WITCHCRAFT, 3 yrs, 7st 121 b, IRONSIASTER, 3 yrs, Bst 81b,
and Miss FRANCES, 4 yrs, ist.

_ .
In the Nursery, 25 two year olds are engaged, of WllOlll
SOPPINKA,•7St 21b, APRIL MORN, 7st 101 b, and LA ROSE,
7st 71b, appear to me to have the bast chance.
For the Hampshire Stakes 15 horses have accepted, in-
cluding Paul Jones, who has the steadying weight of Bst
131 b, with which, heavy as is the impost, he could hardly
lose in this company; but as he has other fish to try, I
think the winner will turn up in Mr. Brayley's lot, Deur°,
5 yrs, Bst 10ib, Prince Regent, 3 yts, Bst 41b, or VENOM-
ous, 3 yrs, 7st 41b, the latter for choice.
In the Two Year Old Biennial, thirty4ive horses aro
engaged, only three of whom have yet run—viz., Flower
Girl, Hymen, and Baden, the first named of whom is a
pretty fair filly, but, nevertheless. 1 expect to see the win-
ner turn up from the "dark" division, of vihoin I know
too little to give an opinion.

Fur the Welter Cup, seventeen horses have been
weighted, and it is not unlikely to fall to Veuctnous, 3
yrs, lOst 81b, or PAIN'S !LILL, 3 yrs, lOst 1011,.