The New York herald., 1920-01-11
Winner of Twelve Straight
Races, Including Grand National,
Deemed Invincible.

Transformed from a despised yearling.
which was sold for ss5, into champion
steapechaser, valued at $4,000, Mrs. Hugh
Peel's bay gelding Poethlyn. ten years old
is the most talked of horse in England.
In the course of his career he has-earned
more than $4,000, to which he is expected
to add $500 depending upon the result
of the Liverpool Grand National Steeple-
chase, to be run over the Aintree course
Of four miles and $50 yards on March 27.
While British turf oracles agree that he
is the greatest jumper in the world they
decry the folly of backing him for the
most exacting Of all turf tests with the
event three months away. Nevertheless
the backing he is receiving is unprece-
dented. The volume of wagering on his
success at Aintree has reduced odds
against him from 10 to / to to l. In
some instances big commissions have been
placed at 8 10 2.
Why is this confidence reposed in him.
Because he has rot been beaten since
1917. has run one dead heat in welter-
weight race on the flat. has won in sue
cession twelve races. among them the War
National, at Gatwick. of 1918, and the
Grand National OF 1919. and ihc top weight
in March will be 175 pounds. an mpost
similar to that under which he won the
big event last March. Furthermore. near
ly all the races in which he has figured
in the last two years have been handicaps
in most Of which he has carried top
weights
Should he finish first in the Grand Ma
tional this year he will achieve the dis
tinction of being the first winner since
the race was introduced in 1899 to score
two victories under 115 pounds at Aintree
Abd-el-Kader won the Grand Nationals
of 1880 and 1851, under respective weights
of 13S and IA. In 1869 and 1870. carrying
147 and 1856 The Colonel equalled Add ell
Kader's record. Manifesto won the race
twice, but not in succeeding years. With
157 up he won in 1897. Two years later he
took up 175 and scored The only horses
that have carried 17J pounds to victory in
a Grand National are Cloister, in 1893.
Manifesto on 1899; Jerry NJ, in 1872 and
Poethyn, in 1919.
Not n Thoroughbred.
Poethlyns development is one OF the
anomalies Of the turf. He is well bred
but is not a thoroughbred His sire was
Rydal Head. a sen of.St Frusquin. and his
dam, Fine Champagne, by King Crow, by
Crowberry out Of Pousse Cafe. by Help.
He was bred by Major Hugh Peel, who
considered him Il weed and sold him as n
llAE lOl Nob. n touDlt Vi years
Major Peel told his trainer, Escott, that
Mrs. Peel wished to own chaser and
asked him to look out for a young horse
that looked like a good jumping prospect.
Shortly afterward Escott reported that he
had seen horse which he believed would
meet the requirements. Major Peel said -
Buy him The horse was bought for Il
reported sum of about $500. When taken
TO Major PcePs stable he was identified
as the Rydal Hcad-Fine Champagne cast
Off
Raced on the flat he performed dis
couragingly. His first success over obsta-
cles was at Birmingham. January II, 1915.
when, under 1877 pounds, he won the
Packington Maiden Chase, two miles. 1t
was not however, until 1917 that his
work or racing gave any indication that
he was destined to become a champion.
In that year he started five times and
won twice. At Lingfield February %,
packing 145 pounds, he won the Surrey
Trial Handicap Chase, three miles. AT
Windsor, March II, he was unplaced in
the Lancashire Handicap Chase in which
he carried 154 pounds.
His meteoric career began at Windsor.
April 19. 1918. with a victory in the April
Handicap Chase, three miles. in which he
shouldered 153 pounds and led a field of
fifteen. His subsequent record was:-
1918.
Lingfield February 13.-Dead heat with Water
Bed in the Lingfield Nelter Flat Race; two miles
ani halt.
Sandown Park. February 21.-157 pounds, won
the Prince of Wales Handicap Chase; three miles.
Sandown Park. March 14:-16s pounds. won the
Byfleet Handicap Chase; three miles.
Gatwick, March 21.-1G0 pounds, won the War
National Steeplechase Handicap; four miles SO
yards
Manchester April 1.-172 pounds. won the
Lancashire Handicap Chase: three miles and
half
1919.
Gatwick, February 2O-115 pounds, won the
Cotland Double Handicap Chase, Class :; three
miles.
Hurst Park, March 14.-175 pounds won the
Trial Double Handicap Chase Class !; three
miles and quarter.
Aintree, March 2s-17J pounds. won the Liver
pool Grand National Steeplecnnse Handicap; four
Manchester April 21-177 pounds. won the
Lancashire Handicap Chase; three miles and
half.
Lingfield December 4.-1I5 pounds won the
Southern Double Handicap Steeplechase; three
Gatwick December 13-1GS pounds, won the
wickham Steeplechase; three miles.
Irish TurfTnen Hopeful.
In view Of these performances many
English turfmen assert that the top-weight
limit for the forthcoming Grand National