i6± STEEPLECHASING 



1876 



Capt. IMachell's " Regal," 5 yrs., 1 1 st. 



3 lb J. Cannon . . i 



Mr. Gomm's " Congress," aged, 1 1 st. 



8 lb Mr. E. P. Wilson 2 



„ J. Nightingall's '-Shifnal," 10 st. 



13 lb R. r Anson . . 3 



Nineteen started. Betting : — 25 to i each against Regal and 

 Congress and Shifnal. 



The other starters were Defence, Master Mowbray, 

 Chandos, Clonave, Phryne, Pathfinder, Jackal, Pahii, 

 Game-bird, The Liberator, Zero, Gazelle, Chimney 

 Sweep, Thyra, Spray, and Rye. 



Captain Machell was officially described as "starter," 

 but Mr. M 'George actually officiated, and the start was 

 a good one, Chimney Sweep, Master Mowbray, The 

 Liberator, and Shifnal being in the front division. At 

 the second fence both Palm and Clonave refused, and 

 Gazelle lamed herself. The rest of the field went on at 

 a good pace to Becher's Brook, which Master Mowbray 

 was the first to clear. Next to him came Pathfinder 

 and Shifnal, the latter a few strides further on taking a 

 slight lead, which he retained along the railway embank- 

 ment. Valentine's Brook was cleared by Master Mow- 

 bray in advance of Jackal and Chimney Sweep, but on 

 Hearing the canal bridge the leading division were upon 

 somewhat closer terms, and on clearing the fence on to 

 the race-course Jackal was well up to the made fence, 

 where The Liberator rushed to the fore and jumped it 

 slightly in advance of the others, but he was headed in 

 the next half-dozen strides by Shifnal, who cleared the 

 water jump in front of the stand a length in front of 

 Jackal, Master Mowbray, and The Liberator, who were 

 nearly abreast. All jumped safely with the exception 

 of Chandos, who blundered on landing, but was quickly 



