236 'LORD OF THE ISLES' 



in the world for the purpose, with which to try St. 

 Hubert ; and with all his care and ability in trying, was 

 thought not likely to make a mistake. My brother 

 John, too, was credited with talent sufficient to ensure 

 his being able to gauge the merits of Kingstown to the 

 greatest nicety ; whilst I had many who believed in what 

 I did, and my stable was to some extent considered 

 powerful. My father expressed his opinion a few days 

 before the race in these words : ' William/ he said, ' I 

 shall win, and you will be second.' My brother feared 

 mine. I feared neither, because I believed in one good 

 horse, and knew that others were difficult to find. 

 Kingstown, it is true, ran well, showing an improvement 

 of about two stone on his form at Salisbury, which, 

 however, could not be considered dangerous. 



The race itself has been described and redescribed at 

 the time and afterwards by so many able pens, that I 

 shall venture but a slight record of it. After the candi- 

 dates for high honours had entered the saddling-ring, 

 they were scrutinized with eager eyes by friends and 

 foes, and pronounced well or unfit, as reason or fancy 

 dictated. Save of the three cracks, little was said of 

 condition. Certainly, Kingstown, when he walked round 

 the ring divested of his clothing, looked well ; and being 

 on the big side, as my brother's usually were, was 

 deservedly much admired. St. Huber t looked as if 

 nothing on earth could improve his condition, though 

 some might, and I have no doubt did, think he looked a 

 little light ; and the same opinion was held against mine. 

 But the result justified the means adopted, and after a 

 severe pace all the way to the bushes, where the field 

 tailed off, Lord of the Isles lying half a length behind St. 

 Hubert, and a neck behind Kingstoivn, they raced in this 

 order down the hill and across the Abingdon mile bottom 



