128 CHASING AND RACING 



racing activities. At the close of her three-year-old 

 season on the flat I put her over the sticks. She 

 took to the game with spirit and aplomb, and I had 

 visions of pulling off something big in this direction. 

 I ran her in two handicaps, one at Kempton and the 

 other at Sandown. In each instance she was handled 

 for me by Roddy Owen, most accomplished of horse- 

 men and best of good chaps, with a similar result, 

 viz., after looking all over a winner two hurdles from 

 home, as she began to weaken, she found the final 

 obstacles too much for her stride, and so nearly came to 

 grief. 



" This is a real nice little filly, Cockie," said Roddy; 

 " a brilliant fencer, and dead game ; but she is too 

 small for the game. She has to waste all her steam in 

 jumping instead of striding over the sticks. If I were 

 you I should cut this stuff out and keep her to the flat." 



Of course, I took his sensible advice. 



