GREEN: YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT. AND CAP 



National " as the race was to be called, should be decided 

 on the Surrey course on the 2ist March, much about 

 the usual time, it will be seen. What in the circum- 

 stances must be regarded as an excellent entry was 

 obtained, indeed it may be assumed that the horses 

 nominated were much about the same as those who 

 would have figured at Aintree but for the regrettable 

 lapse. Of the one and twenty who went to the post 

 seven who had competed for the last real Liverpool were 

 included, to run now over a course specially prepared 

 for the event. All the fences were built up to formid- 

 able dimensions, some new ones also being constructed, 

 and the Liverpool distance was observed to a fraction, 

 4 miles 856 yards, every pains being taken to make the 

 substitute as worthy as possible of the original. Some 

 experienced trainers and jockeys argued, in fact, that 

 severe as Aintree is the new course at Gatwick was 

 certainly not less so, if not absolutely more so ; for the 

 reason that there were fewer turns in Surrey, and except 

 for the expanse of galloping ground at Liverpool from 

 the start to the first fence, longer stretches between 

 jumps. 



On the whole the field in 19 16 can scarcely be 

 considered much below the average, seeing that two of 

 the seven who reappeared were the winner and second 

 of the previous season, Ally Sloper and Jacobus, the 

 former being made favourite at 9 to 2, with Lord 

 Marcus, in spite of the number of times he had dis- 



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