The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-05 00:00:00

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

LIVERPOOL RACES—WEDNESDAY.
THE GRAND NATIONAL.
The Grand National may almost be styled an interna-
tional contest now, for not only have we French and Ger-
man horses among the competitors, but the number of
foreigners who come over to see the great race run is ex-
traordinary, and there has been for the last two or throe
years quite a Babel of tongues on the roof of the Gran d
Stand. The Jockey Clubs of Paris and -Vienna send
strong contingents, and from the plains of Hungary and
the banks of the Seine come sportsmen as keen as any
England or Ireland can show.
Though two of the races in the list failed to fill there
was still a respectable number of items left for the Grand
National day, and from the number of people that made
the journey to Aintree by road and rail, it was evident
that the big event had lost none of its old attractions.
From a comparatively early hour heavy trains were
despatched to the scene of action from the Tithebarne-
street Station in Liverpool, and long before three o'clock
—the time fixed for bringing the steeplechase to issue--
the Canal Bridge, and the other points of advantage for
witnessing the struggle wore taken possession of by the
holiday folk, who were favoured by fair weather, and were
more numerous than ever. The important movements
which took place towards midnight on Tuesday, in connec-
tion with the big race, have already been recorded, and
nothing of importance occurred this morning till a move
had been made to the course, whore plenty of bookmakers
and backers were assembled as early as 1 o'clock, though
the first race on the card was not set to
.come off till
three-quarters of an hour later. Before this came on the
tapis, that portion of the enclosure to the right of the
Stand was crowded with speculators, and in the balcony
above were located a far greater assemblage of the " upper
ten" than usual, many aristocratic ladies belonging to the
Sefton party gracing the occasion. No very important
change in the betting on the Grand National was observ-
able; Chimney Sweep and Moose, however, being firmer
than Lamb, who declined two points, while Pearl Diver
advanced to 11 to 1, despite the support given to Moose.
After the first race, which wont to Three per Cent. after a
omart struggle with King's Daughter, it oozed out that
Tusculanum had gone amiss in the morning, and the pen
being put through his name at 10 minutes past two, left
Mr. Goodman at liberty, that celebrated gentleman jockey
being thereupon engaged for Helen. When this became
known 20 to 1 was taken rather readily about the mare,
and Fan, after having been supported at 10 to 1, de-
clined to 100 to 8. At the same time Nun maintained
her position at 100 to 6, and of the others forming the
middle division Huutsman's Daughter and Aid-
blade found favour at the odds accepted about
Helen. The first race produced but three runners,
and for the second—the Hurdle Handicap —there were but
four, of whom Prima Donna, Musketeer, and. Emlsleigh
claimed the beaten allowance of 51b for not having been
placed in Tuesday's hurdle race. The other starter, Brick,
proved the winner, and three quarters of an hour was now
left for getting the Grand National competitors ready.
There were 38 coloured, and, in t-,dlitiou to Tusculanum,
old Philosopher was struck out, his formal withdrawal
taking place at a quarter pest twelve. Some time before
the start.tihs
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to her last year, while Walter White was secured for Moose,
Tomlinson being secured for Pearl Diver, when it was
found that the Duke of Hamilton intended to exercise his
prerogative with regard to Garus. The report that
Holman would ride Daisy turned out to be incorrect, as
he weighed for Huntsman's Daughter, while Mr. Thomas,
at liberty through the scratching of Mr. Studd's lot,
sported the colours of the Cambrian horse, Mr. Cren-
shaw bearing those of Lord Stamford upon Thalassius in
place of Lotan, who was rather shaky after the " spill"
Archimedes gave him on the opening day. Mr. Edward,
as arranged, scaled for Lamb, and for the first time for
years George Stevens had no mount, Lord Coventry's in-
terests with Chimney Sweep being intrusted to the jockey
who brought him home to victory at Warwick and Croy-
don. The most notable change in the betting towards the
close were the advance of Helen, Pearl Diver, and Hunts-
man's daughter, and the decline of Nun, Garus, Captain
Crosstree, Astrolabe, and Thalassius; and it will be
gathered from the return that Captain Crosstree of the 21
runners (two less than last year) made nearly all the run-
ning, and only surrendered in the last 200 yards to Pearl
Diver, and The Lamb, the last named of whom having the
pace at the finish, defeated Mr. Brayley's horse by two
lengths. Alcibiade and Captain Crosstree were next, some
distance behind the leaders, and the first named of these
ran well under his weight, but lacked speed, as did
Daisy, who was ono of the first on the racecourse. At
this point Moose was completely pumped out, and pro-
bably no one was more surprised than Mr. Brayley at his
easy defeat by Pearl Diver. Helen proved the most
formidable of Mr. Barber's, Fan being virtually out of
the race at the third fence, while before reaching this the
hopes of Lord Coventry of lauding a third Grand National
were scattered to the winds by Chimney S weep falling,
and breaking ono of his legs. Thalassius and The Nun,
among others, canoe down, and from the start three out of
the four leaders at the end may be said to have kept good
places. From the ready manner in which Lamb shook off
Pearl Diver from the last hurdle, it is probable that the
statement mado that ho was a better horse than Benazet is
not in the least exaggerated. Lord Poulett (reported to
bo only part owner) and his friends must be heavy win-
ners by the success of Lamb, who is by the Zouavo (sou of
Bantam), his dam by Arthur. At Puuchestown last April,
when but half-trained, he won the Kildare Hunt Plate,
three miles and a half, front 15 antagonists, and prior to
this he carried off the Corinthian Stakes at the Curragh.
But for his Croydon performance he would have been more
strongly fancied by the general body of backers ; still many
of the talent supported him from the strong symptoms of
fondness displayed by Lord Poulett, who has landed
the coup he has so long struggled for. His lord-
ship was warmly congratulated after the race, as was Mr.
Edwards, who rode throughout very steadily, never at-
tempting to rush his horse, and reserving himself for a
finishing effort. There was a general exodus from the
course when the big contest was over, and the day's sport
terminated by half-past four, the last two items being
carried off respectively by Dawdle and Moonbeam, of
whom the last named got off better than she did ou Tues-
day. Appended is the return :
Sir W. Elliot's Three per Cent., by Bondholder—Folly,
5 yrs, lOst 51b •••••• . (Mr. C. Boyteu) 1
Mr. H. Dobson's King's Daughter, 4 yrs, lOst 41b (inc.
131 b extra) (Challuner) 2
Lord Westmorland's The Rock, 4 yrs, 10st
(Mr. W. Bevil') 3
Betting-5 to 4 agst Three per Cent., 2to 1 agst The
Rock, 3to 1 agst King's Daughter. Lord Westmorland's
horse made the running to the five furlongs post, and
then he was joined by the others, the three coming on in
close company to the distance. Hero Rock gave way, a
fine race with the favourite and King's Daughter ending
in the defeat of the latter by a neck; a bad third.
A Hurdle Handicap of 5 sovs each, 2 ft (to the fund), with
50 added : winners of any race after Feb. 22 (at eleven
a.ni.) 1011) eta; if beaten for the Annual Hurdle Han-
dicap, and not placed second or third allowed 51b ; one
mile and a half, over four hurdles.
Lord Stamford's Brick, by Flying Dutchman—Baroness,
aged, lUst 1016 ('sir. Craw )
Mr. A. Stortford's Musketeer, 6 yrs, 10st 710 (J. Gilbert)
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Betting—Even on Musketeer, 2 to 1 agst Brick, 4 to 1
each agst Prima Donna and budsleigh. On settling into
',laces the
runningl nolVaii,y a neckSlna3dt by Brick,four hs betweenlenwghtekeptthe thelead
throughout, and won
second and third.

The Grand National Steeplechase Plate of 300 sovs
added to a Handicap of 25 soya each, 15 ft., and 5 only
if declared ; the second to receive 50 sore out of the
btakes; wieners of any steeplechase after Jan. 23 (at 11.