SOME MORE NATIONALS, INCLUDING GLENSIDE'S 



but his ability to carry the weight could not be doubted. 

 For some reason Sir Charles was not altogether satisfied 

 with his jockey, Piggott. He had been persuaded that 

 this admirable horseman had grown nervous of the 

 Liverpool fences, and he came to me to discuss the 

 subject of" finding another rider for his great horse. 



I entertained a very high appreciation of Piggott's 

 skill, and did not for a moment believe in the theory that 

 he was likely to be affected by nerves. A few years ago 

 when managing a stable of steeplechase horses I had 

 always taken particular pains to secure Piggott in pre- 

 ference to anybody else whenever it was possible, and 

 Sir Charles left me reluctantly convinced, or half con- 

 vinced, that a change was undesirable. As a matter of 

 fact Piggott rode a perfect race, as I recollect was 

 cordially admitted by two authorities who spoke with 

 peculiar knowledge, Joseph Cannon, who had won on 

 Regal five and thirty years before, and Mr. George 

 Lambton, who had been prominent in Liverpoois 

 though he had never actually won. I do not know 

 whetner the fences were easier in 1912 than In 191 1. 

 Mr. Topham, I believe, states that there was no altera- 

 tion, at any rate in the size and shape, though possibly 

 they may not have been quite so strongly built up. I 

 am not aware how this may be. There were not so 

 many falls, only about ten coming to grief, Rathnally 

 one of the very first to do so, and Glenside ridden by 

 Mr. H. Ussher was also another victim. Caubeen kept 



109 



