THE NATIONAL HUNT 



Billy Balsam was a son of Avington, winner of the 

 Kempton Park Jubilee of 1894. In 1905 Cheltenham 

 was again chosen, and Miss Clifden II. showed that 

 there had been good reason for selecting her the previous 

 year. 



Mr. Bibby ran nothing, nor had he a representative 

 at Warwick in 1906, when Count Rufus beat a field 

 of twenty-eight. It looked indeed as if Warwick had 

 become what may be called the headquarters of the 

 National Hunt, for the race was run there again in 1907 

 and also for the three following celebrations, in 1907 

 Mr. Farrant being rewarded for perseverance by the 

 victory of Red Hall. This was just the sort of success 

 that had been contemplated when the National Hunt 

 Steeplechase was first started, the triumph of a good 

 hunter, ridden and trained by his owner, the only thing 

 to be said against this idea being that if the owner in 

 question is a welter weight he is debarred from the 

 privilege of steering his own animal. This year Mr. 

 Bibby ran Wickham, Captain CoUis up. 



Red Hall though a genuine hunter was certainly 

 sufficiently well bred, a son of Winkfield, who was by 

 Barcaldine, this last named one of the very few animals 

 in racing history who was never beaten, indeed there are 

 some critics who maintain that a better than Barcaldine 

 has never been known. Robert Peck to whom he 

 belonged certainly had the highest opinion of the horse, 

 though oddly enough he was earnestly cautioned against 



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