The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-03-05 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL GRAND STEEPLE.CIIASE.

This important event in the annals of sporting came off
on Wednesday over Aintree. Although there has not been
much speculation going on in Liverpool as to the result of
the race, yet, in London, Doncaster, York, and Manchester,
.considerable sums have been put on. The "old horse" has
been the favourite up to the time of starting, when he re-
ceded a shade, from the very heavy appearance of the ground,
and the fact of his being so much over-weighted. " The
wish has, been father to the thought " that he might win.
The hopes of the many, however, have been disappointed.
To proceed to the events of the day. Leaving Liverpool, we
found the stream of population bearing on towards Aintree ;
all sorts, sizes, and conditions of men, mingling together and
progressing towards the field of action : coaches, cars, omni-
busses, dog carts, shaudries, et hoc genus omne, were put in
motion, heavily laden with the " lieges," all seemingly deter-
mined to enjoy a day's sport and inhale the fresh breezes of
the country. As we approached Aintree the throng increased,
and on our arrival on the course we found an immense mul-
titude congregated. We were glad to see the total absence
of all gambling concerns. There was little amusement stir-
ring, with the exception of some acrobats and mountebanks.
The winnipeg-men, of course, were amongst the most
noisy. The drinking booths seemed to be well attended, and
we have no doubt the " licensed victuallers " reaped a har-
vest.

The landscape presented a most animated appearance from
the thousands and thousands congregated ; the sun shining
beautifully over the animated scene gave it a pleasant appear-
ance. The assemblage of ladies was very small, not above
half a dozen mustering on the Grand Stand. We anticipated
that the beauty of the day would have induced many to come
forth. The line of country marked out was very similar to
last, year. The ground was tetrible heavy—the only essen-
tial difference was, that instead.of the wall nearly opposite the
Grand Stand, a ditch and fence had been substituted. This
was originally intended to have been 15 ft., but in consequence
of Lord Sefton's remonstrance it was reduced to 10 ft. 4 in.
The start took place in a field next the road, in the course op-
posite the Grand Stand, from whence the line Tan over a fal•
low field. The first leap consisted of a ditch and a bank, of
very small pretensions. The course then proceeded over a
meadow, to a slight ditch, bank, and fence. a field of wheat
next presented itself. The third leap consisted of a ditch
and embankment, landing into a ploughed field. The fourth
obstacle was another slight ditch and embankment, from
which the line ran along a ploughed field of very heavy mate-
rial. Leap the fifth consisted of a narrow ditch and hedge,
landin; into a wheat field. Leap six being similar, into a
ploughed field. Leap number seven was a brook and steep
bank ; thence the line ran over a wheat field to number eight,
another ditch and slight fence. The course then was marked
out over a meadow, to leap number nine, which was a ditch
and fence, landing into a heavy ploughed field. These two
leaps being close to each other, and pretty stiff ones to hoot,
it was fully anticipated that some ugly tumbles would ensue.
The course then ran to a ditch andlence, then over a ploughed
field to leap number eleven, a fence and artificial ditch, which
was the heaviest throughout the line. This presented a moot
formidable appearance, and it was anticipated that some
heavy spills would take place. The leap could not be less
than four yards from spring to lauding, the latter being a
slush. The field was desperately heavy. A great many per-
sons congregated in this quarter. Number twelve was a
brook and low quickset hedge, into a fallow field. Number •
this teen consisted of a bank and ragged hedge and ditch,
landing into a meadow. Over the next hedge and ditch came
the road ; over the opposite hedge brought the line into the
course. At this place in 1839 Pauline made a beautiful leap,
clearing a five-barred gate in gallant style. The last leap is
on the course as we have previously described. Of all these
leaps two only were posers, the others being mere every-day
concerns, such as a shetland would shamble over. Number
eleven appeared very formidable, and we fully anticipated
that there would have been some damage done. With the
exception of Oliver Twist all went over cleverly ; he in fact
went well over, but Mr. Oliver fell over his head in lighting.
Previous to starting the betting was 5 to 2 against Lottery,
7 to 1 against Cigar, 6 to 1 against Peter Simple, 7 to 1
against Seventy-four, 8 to 1 against Oliver Twist, and 12 to
1 against the winner. Eleven started.
A SWEEPSTAKES of 20 soya each, 5 ft, with 100 added, for
horses of all denominations, carrying 12st. The winner
of the Cheltenham Steeple Chase in 1810 to carry 18lb
extra. Over a line of country within ten miles of the
town of Liverpool. The ground to be chosen by the Um-
pires, or such persons as they may appoint. The second
horse to save his stake. _ _

... ridden by Powell 1
A. M`Donough 2
... T. Walker 3
Barker 0
B. Bretherton 0
T. Oliver 0

3 Lord Craven ns Charity .
29 Mr. Anderson's Cigar ...
9 Hon. F. Craven ns Peter Simple
13 Mr. Villebois ns Revealer
18 Lord Villiers ns Goblin
28 .Mr. Smith's Oliver Twist

6 Mr. Elmore's Lottery..
2 Sir E. Mostyn's b h Seventy-four Whitworth 0
21 Captain Price's ch g Selim Capt. Price 0
31 Captain Nugent ns ch g The Hawk Saunders 0
2-1 Mr. Robertson's b g Legacy W. M`Donough 0
Some of the jockeys having altered their colours, it was
difficult to ascertain the precise position of the horses.
Selin) led, followed by Cigar, Legacy, Oliver Twist, and the
others. Goblin fell in the lane, but was soon up again. On
approaching No. 8 leap, &limn still led, the others following,
and doing their work beautifully. Oir facing the rasper No.
11, Barker led on Revealer, Cigar clo'sely following; the
others went over cleverly, with the exception we have pi evi-
ously stated of Oliver Twist. On reaching the artificial
ditch in the first round, Cigar led, the grey next, Lottery
third (Mason pulling hard), and the others coming over in
splendid style. Here the horses' mettle began to be shewn,
and the race was very interesting. Pretty nearly in the same
order, the rest of the course was run with a few changes of
place, Charity eventually winning by three lengths. Never
was a finer race run, better ridden, or more gallantly con-
tested ; the pleasure of the sight being enhanced by the
knowledge that no accident occurred. Lottery seemed in
excellent condition: when he came in he had not turned a
hair.

The next race, for which eleven also started, was
The HURDLE RACE, a distance of two miles, for a sweep of
15 sovs each, 10 forfeit, with 50 added.

14 Mr. Bond's h g Jupiter
7 Mr. Parker's dun m Duenna (h b) aged Frisley 2
5 Mr. Ferguson's Rust, aged Saunderson 3
The betting was nearly as follows :-7 to 4 against Rust;
6 to 1 against Defence • 10 to 1 against Barefoot ; 10 to 1
against Duenna; and 10 to 1 against Jupiter.—The following
started, but were not placed :1--Tobacconist, True Blue, Em-
peror, Defence, Jessie, Barefoot, Now or Never, and Prince.
—At starting True Blue took the lead, followed by Emperor
and Barefoot : the others coming up smartly, some changes
of position took place. In coming in a terrific struggle took
place between Jupiter and Duenna, when Oliver, by hard
work, brought the Thunderer in by half a length. This was
extremely interesting, and set the spectators shouting. Ju-
piter's winning put us in mind of Old Chasse's mode of as-
tonishing his competitors by giving them the go-by.
It was expected that a match would have come off; but
it proved " no go."
Although the concourse was so immense; no accident took
place, and a few " spills " only occurred: a shaft or two
broken, and a pannel smashed.
Mr. Lynn took care of the creature comforts, and the
arrangements were on a good scale.

scale.
Amongst the nobility and gentry Staying at the various
hotels, we give the following:—
ADELrni—Lord and Lady Miltown, Captain France, Ma-
jor Jones, Sir E. Mostyn, Mr. Price Mostyn, Sir W. Gal-
laway, Capt. Hylam, Mr. E. Peel, Mr. E. Collett, M.I. Pisani,
Mr. Pollard, of Stanway, Captain Wardlaw, Mr. Fitz-
herbert, Sir Watki. Wynn, Major Hay, Captain Wynne,
Captain Willoughby, Sir R. Cunliffe, Hon. W. Cunard, &c.
WATERLOO—Messrs. Graham, Garvin, Kershaw, Rawsey,
Chapman, Goodlake, Peel, Green, Richardson, Oldforth,
Anderson, Brookes, Bowles, &c.
ROYAL—The Earl of Eglinton's family ; Messrs. Fox,
Labertouch, Bailey, Segreave, Johnson, Harrison, Clarke,
Allbutt, Plunkett, Horne, &c.
QUEEN'S ARMS—Sir R. Puleston, Major Hill, Messrs.
Kenderley, Walker, Whitwall, Ward, natty, Prince, Wil-
liams, &C.
GEORGE INN, (SIRDEFIELD'S)—Messrs. Vever, Knox,
Moss, Woodehouse, Herbert, Day, Wood. Holland, Smiths,
Thacker, Peel, &c. &c.—ln fact, the hotels throughout the
town were all very full of company.