THE NOBLE ART OF BACKING WINNERS 2I9 



merits into play. Cloister skimmed his 

 fences like a swallow, and you hardly saw 

 him jump at all — he seemed to gallop over 

 them, as perfect chasers should. 



Slow horses often win chases through 

 their perfect fencing, but not as often as of 

 yore. They are mostly speedy recruits 

 from the flat ; and a very fast hunter, if 

 not quite thoroughbred and well schooled, 

 has no earthly chance against selling 

 steeplechasers, who, besides having some 

 pace about them, are so used to jumping 

 at full speed that they lose no time at their 

 fences. I do not take exception to the 

 guard-rail fence to the extent many do, 

 as I have trained plenty who will go and 

 jump it right enough the very first time 

 they are asked. When you start an 

 ordinary hunter chasing, it Is the increased 

 pace at which he is asked to jump that 

 confuses him. Stallions intended for being 



