THE NATIONAL HUNT 



I then went to stay near Dublin and spent some days 

 looking round about that district, which I knew well, 

 hoping to come across a second horse that would do for 

 Barclay Walker. I found only one that I cared about, 

 and as the owner and breeder said he would not take 

 less than ;^900 I hesitated, writing to Barclay Walker 

 to say I thought the price too high for an untried horse. 

 He, however, said 'buy,' so I did. This was Friar 

 John. My purchases therefore that summer were Friar 

 John, Kirkland and Mr. Quilp. Mr. Quilp I may add 

 ought certainly to have won the Great Metropolitan at 

 Epsom, but the jockey entirely misunderstood the 

 instructions I gave him." 



I mention ail this because we are discussing the 

 National Hunt Steeplechase which Friar John won in the 

 hands of Mr. Sydney, the second, Castleknock, being 

 ridden by Mr. H. S. Persse, the Stockbridge trainer 

 who was so often prominent in this 'chase. 



Mr. Persse won it in 1 902 on Marpessa, a very useful 

 son of Marmaton who afterwards passed intO' the pos- 

 session of Major Eustace Loder, and secured for him 

 the Grand Military Gold Cup at Sandown amongst 

 other races. Mr. Bibby ran a grey five-year-old named 

 Frosty. The meeting was held at Warwick, Mr. 

 Sidney rode, twenty-three starters, and I may perhaps 

 add that " Mr. Deer," who so often wore the colours, 

 had this year kindly undertaken to ride one of the 

 horses I had bought and was managing for my nephew 

 •^ 145 



