366 STEEPLE-CHASING. 



It is worth while to recall one slight proof of the thorough- 

 ness with which Mr. Ede was, in the comprehensive phrase, 

 'at home in the saddle.' He was on one occasion gahoping to 

 the water-jump, and had come to within three or four strides 

 of it, when a couple of loose horses that had got rid of their 

 jockeys closed in on him from either side. The chance of an 

 accident seemed great, for it might have occurred, under the 

 circumstances, in so many different ways, from a cannon, from 

 one or other of the pair swerving, falling, or jumping side- 

 ways. Mr. Ede, as it appeared in the last stride before he rose 

 at the fence, cut at the one on his right, diverted its course, 

 changed his whip to the left hand, and cleared the way for 

 himself at the moment when his horse jumped. It was the 

 perfect ease and neatness with which the thing was done that 

 struck spectators. 



On the whole, the statement that George Ede was the 

 best amateur horseman that ever rode a steeple-chase— and 

 this is a sport in which amateurs hold their own against pro- 

 fessional jockeys — may probably be made without fear of con- 

 tradiction. 



'Ihe Lamb's second victory was in the hands of Mr. 

 Thomas, who had ridden some fourteen or fifteen times in the 

 race. Believers in omens found a peculiar reason for believing 

 in The Lamb this year — 187 1. As a train laden with race-goers 

 reached Liverpool station the day before the Grand National, 

 a little lamb jumped out of a truck, and went down the line at 

 his best pace. Absurd as it may seem, there is no doubt that 

 many foolishly superstitious persons backed The Lamb in 

 consequence. A better reason for supporting him was the 

 fact that he had only 12 lbs. more to carry than he had won 

 under three years before ; that 11 st. 5 lbs. was a fair racing- 

 weight for so well-proved a horse ; that he had been through a 

 good preparation, and had a resolute and experienced pilot. 

 Lord Poulett was very hopeful, for the horse had been neither 

 sick nor sorry since his preparation began, and had never left 

 a grain of corn in his manger. How much this means when 



