THE GREAT LANCASHIRE STEEPLECHASE 



vast amount of difference, the Manchester fences are 

 nothing like those at Aintree, the course, indeed, being 

 a very easy one. Competition is nevertheless naturally 

 keen, there being so few steeplechases of high value in 

 the Calendar^ and the best horses are attracted. 



Mr. Bibby first made his bid for success in 1 900, when 

 Zodiac went on from Liverpool to try his luck. He 

 had not taken part in the National, but had started for 

 the Stanley Five-Year-Old Steeplechase on the Saturday, 

 as it happened a rather curious contest. There were 

 four runners. Two of them stood up but failed to 

 finish the course, whilst the two others. Uncle Jack II. 

 and Zodiac, finished first and second after having fallen 

 and been remounted. These two met at Manchester, 

 where Uncle Jack repeated his victory, Zodiac getting no 

 nearer than eighth. The race dwells in my memory for 

 the reason that Cushendun, from the stable I was 

 managing, shared favouritism with an animal called 

 Montauk, a son of Strathmore and Spinaway. Montauk 

 failed to distinguish himself, Cushendun finishing 

 fourth, behind Lambay, to whom I have referred on 

 a previous page. Old Manifesto, with only one pound 

 less than 13 st. to carry, was in the field, but as I think 

 has been remarked, horses who have run for the National 

 are seldom any good for a long time afterwards, and 

 Manifesto was nearer last than first. Mr. Bibby sent 

 nothing in 1901, when the race was taken by Coragh 

 Hill, a son of Gallinule, nor in the two following 



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