96 STEEPLECHASING 



the case in the previous year, the winner was not 

 mentioned in the betting, a report having gained 

 credence that he w^as amiss owinof to not havinof- re- 

 covered from the effects of a steeplechase in which 

 he had been engaged not long before. Scavenger 

 refused the first fence and took no further part in 

 the race. Homihi fell, and his rider was much cut 

 about the face and head ; while Lancelot and Lady- 

 Grey came to grief, but jumped the course riderless. 

 On turning into the straight Culverthorpe, Eagle, 

 Firefly, and Veluti were running abreast with Pioneer 

 just behind, but he shooting out suddenly was the 

 first to clear the last fence and won by nearly three 

 lengths. Ten minutes and ten seconds was the time 

 given, and the course was said to have been nearly 

 five miles. The placed horses were : — 



Mr. Adams's "Pioneer," 6 yrs., ii st. 12 lb. . . Taylor . i 



,, Payne ns " Culverthorpe," (h.b.) aged, 1 1 st. 41b. Rackley 2 



Lord Howth's "Switcher," 5 yrs., 12 st. 4 lb. . Wynne. 3 



1847 



The handicapper was so far flattered that no fewer 

 than twenty-nine started, and the race resulted in the 

 victory of the first Irish-bred horse to carry off the 

 Grand National. 



Mr. Courtenay's " Mathew," 10 st. 6 lb. . . D. Wynne i 

 ,, Watt, Junior, ns "St. Leger," 12 st. 3 lb. Olliver . 2 

 ,, Moseley's "Jerry," 11 st. 6 lb Bradley . 3 



On this occasion the race was won by the favourite 

 (4 to I against) Mathew, by Vestris, which was bred in 

 1838 by Mr. John Westropp of Coolreagh. He won 

 several races in Ireland and often met Brunette. 



Of the twenty-nine starters this year three, or accord- 



