THE GREAT LANCASHIRE STEEPLECHASE 



the first ten of fourteen, the race going to Irish Mail, 

 then the property of Mr. Tyrwhitt Drake — it was after- 

 wards that he was acquired by Sir Charles Assheton- 

 Smith. A useful animal called Couvrefeu II. was 

 second, beaten three lengths, and Mr. Bibby took third 

 place with Forkhill, a horse who had gained some 

 reputation ; for in the face of Rathnally, the much 

 fancied Twelfth Lancer, ridden by Mason, and the grey 

 Frenchman Trianon III., Forkhill was backed at loo 

 to 9. 



In 1 914 Forkhill was again sent to the post, but 

 performed ingloriously, Isaac Morgan having to pull 

 him up. This was the closest struggle in the history 

 of the 'chase, Eugenist only getting home by a head 

 from the favourite, Alfred Noble. Mr. Bibby ran 

 nothing in 191 5, when Vermouth won from Temple- 

 downey, and in 191 6 there was no meeting at 

 Manchester, 'cross country sport being restricted in 

 England to Gatwick, Lingfield, Colwall Park, Haw- 

 thorn Hill and Windsor, at which last named place a 

 race called the Lancashire Steeplechase was run. Oddly 

 enough the finish twelve months previously was just 

 reversed, Templedowney beating Vermouth. Nothing 

 of Mr. Bibby's ran, nor did he send anything to 

 Windsor for the substitute at that place, called this year 

 the April Handicap Steeplechase, for I suppose this must 

 be taken as the substitute ; but in 191 8 the Manchester 



Meeting was resumed, and I have the strongest possible 



169 



