2IO 



Kilmanie jumped short and came down. She then added injury to insult, 

 •by using Mr. Beresford's head as a drum, and her hind legs as the sticks. 

 Poor lad his beautiful clothes were soon spoilt, and his perfect collar 

 converted into a red rag by the crimson stream which flowed from 

 beneath his cap. The next few jumps were negotiated without mishaps, 

 and the field now headed for the sheep-pens. As Harlequin jumped 

 fron\ the lane into the field, the Mem Sahib had a purler and resumed 

 the journey on foot. Unknown, Blackwater and Commissioner were 

 now at the head of affairs, and galloped up the lane at a grand pace. 

 Several leps were now taken, at one of which Mr. Sille, missing his pal, 

 ^tumbled off to look for him. The welcome flags now appear with a good 

 run home of a quarter of a mile over three hurdles. Magpie and Skipper 

 now raced up to Blackwater, whom, however, they could never get 

 near, and "The Tougall" secured first honors easily ; Mr. Rivers second, 

 Mr. Petrie third. 



The course was capital and the jumps big enough for anybody. 

 The Cup v.'ill be run about the loth of March, and we shall have 

 something to say about the competitors as soon as we see the entries. 



The fog early on Saturday morning looked so thick that it seemed as 

 if the chase must be postponed. Luckily, however, the weather cleared 

 about half- past six, and although it was decidedly muggy, it was not so 

 hot as might have been expected. The rains we have had lately made 

 the going very heavy. Perhaps, however, this is better than the iron- 

 like croing we generally experienced in chases at the tail end of the 

 season. The course was a capital one, the jungle being avoided almost 

 the whole way. The entries for the Cup have not yet closed, but we 

 hear of many starters. Several sportsmen have told us privately that 

 they have put their horses into strong work with the view of winning 

 the trophy, and what is much better, they all appear to think they stand 

 capital chances. We observed one man the other day tearing madly 

 round the course who, on pulling up, informed us he was getting his 

 horse fit. We humbly ventured to suggest that the nag looked a leetle 

 thin. He, however, told us we knew nothing about it, and started for 

 what he called a spurt. He finally disappeared from our sight, working 

 his arms and legs like an engine, and told us next day that he had been 

 imitating Vinall at a finish. We told him we recognised the style at 

 once, though we did not think that it was the usual habit of that jockey 

 to spur his mount about the ears or yet about his tail. The gallant 

 sportsman got angry at this, and so we left him, thinking what a day 

 we shall have if the rest of the starters are only half as enthusiastic. 



The start took place yesterday on the right of the road just before 

 leachingJodhporeThannah, the paper being carried by Mr. Simpson on Gill 

 ^nd Captain Muir on the great Jack, who flew the country in grand style. 



