NATIONAL HUNT STEEPLECHASE 225 



ham, but since the race was run over the course seven 

 years previously sundry alterations had taken place. 

 The course had really been reversed, the stands were 

 moved to the opposite side, and the straight run in had 

 been widened and lengthened. Plenty of people were 

 present, and carriages lined the rails two deep, but 

 the members of the Grand National Hunt Committee 

 were somewhat conspicuous by their absence. The 

 weather might have been better, and the going was 

 perhaps a little heavy, but the fences had been made 

 up with great care, yet, in spite of all attractions, half- 

 a-dozen only out of the thirty-six on the card went 

 to the post. The placed horses were : — 



Duke of Hamilton's "The Bear," 4 yrs., 



10 St. 10 lb Mr. E. P. Wilson i 



Captain Middleton's " Victory," 6 yrs., 



12 St. 10 lb Owner .... 2 



Mr. J. Goodliff's b. g. by Knight of Kars 



— Rosalba, 6 yrs., 12 st. 10 lb. . Mr. G. Moore . 3 

 Betting : — 5 to 2 The Bear. 



An indifferent start was made under the leadership 

 of Flying Birdcatcher, The Bear acting as whipper-in. 

 After passing the stand Flying Birdcatcher, Bounce, 

 and the Rosalba gelding took the drop fence abreast, 

 but soon afterwards Bounce's chance was gone. The 

 Rosalba gelding was then leading, and The Bear had 

 taken Bounce's place, but was jumping rather slowly, 

 and steadily losing ground. When the stand was 

 passed in the second time round, The Maze was lying 

 second, and Flying Birdcatcher caused some trouble 

 to his rider, but ultimately regained his lost ground. 

 On entering the straight the Rosalba gelding began to 

 drop back, and half a mile from home gave way to 

 The Bear and Victory, the former winning the race by 

 two lengths in 1 1 minutes 2)7 seconds. A head gained 

 Victory second place from the Rosalba gelding. 



