The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-13 00:00:00

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

BIRMINGHAM STEEPLECHASES—WEDNESDAY.
The company assembled on the running ground to-day
was even larger than that of Tuesday, and it again in-
clude(' many patrician supporters of steeple-chasing, as
well as many of the London and provincial operators.
The weather was bright and clear, and, as will be gathered
from the return, the sport was first-class, the Grand An-
nual, for which the Doctor was scratched at a quarter-
past 11, producing a tremendous race between half-a-
dozen. Sylph was the most noticeable absentee, but the
field included some of the Grand National candidates,
of whom Woodbury Hill was backed at 1,000
to 20 for his Aintree engagement before the race.
Shakspeare started a warm favourite, the talent stand-
ing him to a man from the belief entertained
that he was far superior to his stable companion
Highflyer. After the bard, Nun and Woodbury
Hill were the most in request, and of these two the latter
cut a moderate figure, while Arcimedes was never in the
race after going a mile, at which point Bishopton swerved
and took all the field out of the track. As the leading
half a dozen went over the last fence, it was impossible to
say which had the best of it, so close were they together,
but the first to falter were Shakspere, Albrighton, and
King Alfred, and a splendid race with Nun, Benazet, and
Greenland ended in favour of The Nun, who did very fairly
last autumn, as she carried off the Castle Martin Stakes at
Tenby, the Hunters' Stakes at Hereford, and the Seven
Bank Stakes at Worcester. Benazet, who ran her to half
a length, gave her a stone, and Shakspere did not disgrace
himself with list 91b, though he can have no chance at
Liverpool. The other races call for little comment.
II ighflyer's penalty did not stop him for the Licensed
Victuallers' Plate, and the Colonel was a good thing for
the Farmer's Steeplechase, during the struggle for which
Plum Cake fell; but the latter managed to win the suc-
ceeding event, and the last two items were the Scurry and
the Craven Cup.
The Licensed Victuallers' Plate of 50 sovs ; winners after
Feb. 5 at noon, 71b extra. About two miles and a
half.
Mr. Crawshaw's Highflyer, by Orpheus—dam by Bar-
nacles, aged, lOst 131 b (inc. 71b extra) (Owner) 1
Mr. G. Stevens's Miss Dodson, affed, lOst 51b (Owner) 2
Mr. T. Calder's Coverdale, aged,lost 101 b (Page) 3
Mr. R. Herbert's Comberton, aged, 12st 121 b (W. Reeves) 4
Mr. F. G. Hobson's Patience, aged, lUst 111 b ...(Owner) 5
Mr. W. R. Brocton's Lady Newark, aged, 11st (Owner) 0
Mr. Marsden's Huntsman, aged, lOst Blb (W. G. Jarvis) 0
Mr. T. Mersham's Puebla, 6 yrs, lust 41b (H. States) 0
Mr. J. Coupland's Cruiskeen, aged, lOst (Knott) 0
Betting-7 to 4 agst Highflyer, 2to 1 agst Comberton,
6 to 1 agst Patience, 10 to 1 each agst Miss Dodson and
Coverdale. The favourite made most of the running, and
wou by a length and a half ; a neck separating second
and third.
The Farmers' Steeplechase Stakes of 3 soya each, with 25
added; four year olds lOst 71b, five llst 71b, six 12st 11b,
aged 12st 51b. About three miles.
Mr. Weyman's The Colonel, by Knight of Kars—
Boadicea (h b), 5 yrs, list 71b (Mr. J. Goodwin) 1
Mr. J. Woodward's Black Swan, aged, list 121 b,
Mr. W. Kempster's The Collier (h b), 6 (Mr. Hobson) 2
yrs, 11st 71b
lr. Charles) 3
Mr. G. Robert's Cotswold (h b), aged, 12st Blb
(Mr. A. Smith) 4
Mr. H. Bird's Marshman, aged, list 121 b (Mr. Percival) 5
Mr. W. Yates's Plum Cake (h b), 5 yrs, list
(Mr. Dabbs) 0
Mr. G. Hughes's Caller Oa (h b), aged, list 121 b
(Mr. A. Laxton) 0
Mr. Hanway's Swindler, aged, 12st 121 b (Rickaby) 0
Betting.-7 to 4 agst Colonel, 100 to 30 agst Black
Swan, 4 to 1 agst Plum Cake. Black Swan, after going
a few hundred yards, went to the front and led the way
till within half a mile of home, where Colonel joined
issue. The two came on nearly abreast till getting over
the last fence, and from thence the favourite drew away,
and won by two lengths, The Collier, pulling up, was a
bad third. Cotswold and Marsham headed the others, of
whom Plum Cake fell.
The Hunters' Plate of 25 sovs, for horses that have never
won a steeplechase handicap. About three miles.

Mr. Yates' Plum Cake, by Plum Pudding, 5 yrs, llst 71b
(Mr. A. Dabbs) 1
Mr. Hill's Militiaman' aged, 12st 51b (Mr. T. Percival) 2
Mr. Weyman's Lady Port, list (Mr. J. Goodwin) 3
Mr. Brookes' Round Text, aged, 13st Glb (Mr. Thomas) 0
Mr. Pilgrim's Order, 4 yrs, 10st Glb (W. G. Jarvis) 0
Mr. Aston's Wizard, by Magician, aged, 12st 121 b
(Mr. Woodhouse) 0
Betting-2 to 1 agst Order, 4to 1 agst Plum Cake, Round
Text, and Lady Port, sto 1 agst Militiaman. Round
Text was the first away, but after proceeding a short dis-
tance ho was passed by Militiaman, who carried on the

running till nearing the second fence from the ditch, when

Round Text joined issue with him. At the obstacle
named the latter came to grief, and soon afterwards
Militiaman was in trouble, Plum Cake and Lady Port
drawing up to him. At the distance Plam Cake came
away, and won by two lengths ; a length separating the
two next. Order refused repeatedly, and ultimately fell.
The Birmingham Grand Annual Steeplechase of 15 sovs
each, 5 ft, with 100 added ; the winner of any steeple-
chase after Jau. 27, at noon, 51b; or any steeplechase
value 100 sovs, 91b ; twice, or 200 sovs, 141 b extra ; the
second in any steeplechase value 200 sovs, 51b extra ;
gentlemen riders who are qualified under the new rules,
a-LA -riav 11111-ar of any handicap
steeplechase, allowed 51b (provided it does not reduce
the weight under the limit of the National Steeplechase
Rules); the second to save his stake. About three miles
and a half. 66 subs., 32 of whom pay 5 sovs each.
Mr. E. Green's Nun (h b), by Fly-by-Night—Nun,
aged, lOst 121 b (Wheeler) 1
Lord Poulett's Benazet, aged, 11st 121b...(Mr Edwards) 2
Mr. J. S. Welfitt's Greenland, aged, lOst 91b _ _

. _ .
( Waddington) 3
Mr. R. Herbert's King Alfred, aged, lOst Glb (A. Reeves) 4
Duke of Hamilton's Shakspeare, aged, list 91b

(J. Page) 5
Mr. Wadlow's Albrighton (in. 141 b extra), 6 yrs, list 21b
(W. White) 6
Lord Stamford's Archimedes, 6 yrs, list ...(Mr. Lotan) 0
Mr. Bax ter's Woodbury Hill b), aged, llst (G. Stevens) 0
Mr. Dixon ns Musketeer, 6 yrs, 10st 121 b
Mr. F. G. Hobson's Bishopton, 6 yrs, lOst 101 b (Owner) 0
Mr. J. Wood's Havelock, aged, lOst 91b (Potter) 0
Betting. —5 to 2 agst Shakspeare, 9 to 2 agst The Nun,
6 to 1 agst Woodbury Hill, 8 to 1 agst Greenland, 10 to 1
agst Benazet, 100 to 8 agst Bishopton, 20 to 1 agst King
Alfred. Bishopton led for about a mile, when he swerved
out of the course, and took all his antagonists with him.
They were soon righted, however, with the exception of
Archimedes, who was never in the hunt afterwards. Some
distance from the finish the race was confined to half-a-
dozen—Shakspeare, Nun, Greenland, Benazet, King
Alfred, and Albrighton, who took the last fenco nearly
abreast, Greenland having made most of the running after
Bishopton had swerved, as above stated. When fairly
over the concluding jump a splendid set-to ensued, The
Nun getting the best of it from the half distance, and
winning by half a length from Benazet, who was a similar
distance before Greenland. Shakspeare, at the head of
the others, was not beaten far.

The Scurry Plate of 30 Boys (Handicap); any winner
after the weights are declared 71b extra. About two
miles.
Mr. E. Da.yer's Hence, by Muscovite—lonics, 6 yrs,
list 31b
Lord Poulett's Ace of Hearts, aged, lOst 121 b
. Edwards) 2
Mr. Marsden's Huntsman, aged, lOst 121b(Mr (Daniels) 3
Mr. J. Milling's Ross, aged, 10st (carried 10st 31b)
(W. G. Jarvis) 4
Mr. F. G. Hobson's Patience, aged, lOst 111 b (Owner) 5
Mr. Jelly's Brandy Apple, aged, lOst blb (J. Forst_ r) 6
Mr. Brooke's Flexmore, aged, lOst. (Thomlinson) 0

Betting-2 to 1 agst Helice, sto 2 agst Ace of Hearts,
and sto 1 agst Patience. Ross was the first away, but at
; the first fence the lead was taken by Patience, Ross fel-
' lowing slightly in advance of Huntsman, Flexmore and
Ace of Hearts succeeding, Helier) bringing up the rear.
After rounding the first turn Ace of Hearts ran into the
third place, but Patience was in command till reaching the
ploughed land, where she was pulled back, and Huntsman
took up the running, Helice, as they jumped into the
park, improving her position. Passing the house in the
park Relic() headed Ace of Hearts, and the pair soon
afterwards deprived Huntsman of the lead. Two fences
from home Ace of Hearts was level with Helice, but he
was beaten immediately on landing, and the mare won
easily by two lengths. Huntsman was third, beaten six
lengths, Ross fourth, Patience fifth, and Brandy Apple
sixth. Flexmore was pulled up some distance from home.
The Craven Cup, value 100 sovs, by subscription of 10 sovs
each, h ft ; four year olds lOst 71b, five list 71b, six and
aged 12st. About three miles and a half.
Mr. Coupland's Bannockburn, by Audubon, Careful—
(Mr. Thomas) 1
aged, llst 21b
Sir W. Throckmorton's Walterstown, 6 yrs, list 21b
(W. Reeves) 2
Lord S tamford's Brick, aged, list 21b .......
)
Mr. Wallace's Tally-ho, aged, 12st 71b
_ i n c.
(.i3ll 1)1 fzux:tarfba°)br ds)
43
r7lcbkton) 0
Mr. J. J. Clarke's Lady of the Vale, 6 yr(s,3flrl.st
o
Mr. George's Sprite, aged, 12st 71b (including 71,r) efatgrae) 0
Mr. Welfitt's Brocklesby, 6yrs, list 21b (G. Waddington) 0
Betting-5 to 2 each agst Walterstown and Brick, 4to
1 each agst Tally-ho and Sprite, and sto 1 agst Bannock-
burn. The last quoted made play, followed by Brick,
Walterstown, and Brocklesby, Sprite bringing up the
rear. At the fence leading into the ploughed land, Brick
blundered and joined Tally-ho in the ruck. When fairly
in the park the running was taken up by Brocklesby, who
however speedily gave way to Tally-ho. The latter had a
clear lead on passing the stand the second time, Bannock-
burn and Brick following, a wide interval separating them
from Brocklesby and Walterstown, Sprite still acting as
whipper-in. Tally-ho resigned the command in the park,
and Bannockburn and Brick came on together, Walters-
town lying handy. Brick was the first beaten, and his
place was taken by Walterstown, who made a most deter-
mined effort to reach Bannockburn, but Mr. Thomas,
riding the latter resolutely, won cleverly by a length, two
lengths separated second and third, Tally-ho was a bad
fourth; Lady of the Vale and Sprite walked in. Brock-
lesby fell iu the park, but Waddington sustained no in-
jury beyond a bruise on the knee.

ROYAL SCOTTISH ACADDIY.—At a special general
mooting of the Royal Scottish Academy, held in Edin-
burgh ou Monday, Mr. Arthur Perigal was elected an aca-
demician of that body in room of the late Ur. Horatio
maccull9cia,