128 STEEPLECHASING 



cellent. A post and rail was put up in front of Becher's 

 and Valentine's Brooks, " but all the other fences 

 were mere narrow ditches with thin thorn fences, of 

 the most contemptible description, and practicable for 

 a schoolboy of ten years on his twelve hands pony. 

 The thorn fence at the distance and the water jump 

 were of the ordinary size, and the latter was the only 

 jump, save that at Valentine's Brook, which required 

 any 'doing.' " 



Tuesday the loth of March, the Grand National 

 day, being the day on which the Prince of Wales was 

 married, was kept as a general holiday, so it was 

 expected that those who were set free from their work 

 would hasten to the Aintree race-course on the first 

 day of the meeting ; but such was not the case, as 

 the crowd was no bigger than on the average of 

 opening days. On the National day, however, there 

 was no lack of spectators. 



The field of sixteen comprised at least a couple 

 of headstrong horses. One of these. The Orphan, had 

 to be restrained with a leading rein, and when the flag 

 fell the leading rein had to be undone, so that The 

 Orphan and Birdholt were left at the post, and directly 

 The Orphan was released from the leading rein he 

 bounded straisrht into the air. Once off, however, he laid 

 himself down to gallop, and before his rivals were clear 

 of the race-course The Orphan was on fair terms with 

 the leaders ; Medora, who had virtually taken charge 

 of Mr. Rowlands, showing the way to the others. The 

 mad, impetuous Inkerman came next, but galloping 

 straight into the second fence gave his rider a bad fall. 

 He then went on riderless, taking second place, so the 

 riders of Master Bagot, Yaller Gal, The Freshman, 

 The Dane, Arbury, Jealousy, and Emblem gave Inker- 

 man a wide berth and lost a little ground thereby. At 

 the third fence The Freshman headed Medora and 



