THE DERBY MYSTERY 239 



fact was immediately conveyed to Mr. Merry by myself. 

 He ate well, and in other respects seemed in perfect 

 health ; and being fit so lately, he was eased in his work 

 for three days, not being absolutely idle, but taking 

 cantering exercise, and then resumed active work. Mr. 

 Merry was daily receiving my reports of the state of his 

 health and what he was doing. I considered, after his 

 preparation for the Two Thousand and his race in it, a 

 few days' ease would not hurt him, but, on the contrary, 

 it may have done him some good. As for the possible 

 advantages of rest, I may point out that Dangerous, 

 some days before the Derby, hurt his leg in his trial, and 

 did not from that day until the day before the race have 

 faster exercise than trotting, and on that day was only 

 cantered twice. Yet he won. Pretty much the same 

 may be said of Amato and Phosphorus, both Derby- 

 winners, and both lame at the time. I should add that, 

 as a precautionary measure, I advised Mr. Merry to 

 hedge his money ; for though I have known many horses 

 to cough without detriment to their running powers, yet 

 no one can tell to what extent a cough may prove 

 injurious to their bodily health. I believe that he 

 followed my advice, and I know that after this dis- 

 appointment Aldcroft was never much in his favour as a 

 jockey. And this I believe to be a full, true, and 

 particular account of Lord of the Isles' performances in 

 the two great three-year-old races against St. Hubert 

 and Kingstown. Shortly after the former left me, with 

 the rest of Mr. Merry's horses. 



