LIVERPOOL 163 



Going into the country for the second time, Victoire 

 again took a slight lead and was in front at Becher's 

 Brook ; but, on landing over Valentine's Brook, Bar 

 One rushed to the front until the second fence from the 

 canal, where Due de Beaufort ran into third place. Path- 

 finder and Dainty at the same time improving their posi- 

 tions. Landing on to the course. Congress, Victoire, 

 Dainty, and La Veine were in front. Victoire was beaten 

 in the straight, when Dainty and Pathfinder ran through 

 their horses and joined the leader, the last flight of 

 hurdles being charged first by Dainty, with Pathfinder 

 next. Dainty had all the best of the race to the stand, 

 but Pathfinder was the fresher, gradually wore down the 

 mare, and won all out by half a length ; three lengths off 

 La Veine was third. Laburnum broke his leg after land- 

 ing on to the course. Time, 10 minutes 22 seconds. An 

 objection was lodged against Pathfinder on the ground 

 of insufficient description, but it was subsequently with- 

 drawn. A finer or more exciting finish has seldom been 

 seen for a Grand National, moderate though the com- 

 petitors may have been. 



The race was regarded as being very open, and there 

 was at no time a very strong favourite. The success of 

 Pathfinder, formerly known as The Knight, was quite 

 unexpected, as prior to his coming into the possession of 

 Mr. Bird his performances had been moderate in the 

 extreme ; but he managed to win the Leicestershire 

 Hunt Steeplechase in the hands of Mr. Thomas, who 

 on this occasion took part in the Grand National for 

 the eighteenth time, and for the third time rode the 

 winner. 



