132 CHASING AND RACING 



Weasel, not, of course, in compliance with Duke's 

 order. My old fellow caught hold of the bit as soon 

 as the flag fell ; but I had him well in hand by the time 

 the junction of the courses was reached, and soon held 

 him nicely placed on the rails, lying fourth, just 

 behind " The Squire." As we completed the cir- 

 cuit and came into the straight I felt my mount going 

 very strongly and smoothly. Half-way up, that 

 accomplished amateur Abingdon took up the running ; 

 but as soon as I challenged, his gee was done with, 

 and I won rather easily by a length and a half. From 

 first to last I did not see Jimmy Duke and his fragrant 

 Hyacinth. 



This was a good start. I was immensely pleased 

 with the Weasel, who, I discovered, was at one time 

 something of a celebrity across the Irish Channel, 

 having won the Irish Grand Military and other 

 important jump races ; but he had apparently for- 

 gotten the art of " lepping," for when I tried him 

 over hurdles at home he proved a very sticky jumper, 

 always showing great caution on the *' safety first *' 

 principle, by having a good look at each obstacle before 

 attempting to negotiate it. 



My second venture on Weasel was a cushy job. 

 It was at Kempton where again ** Jimmy " Duke threw 

 down the gauntlet. This time with Unripe — well 

 named, as the issue proved. Although he was a 

 raging favourite Weasel slammed him all ends up, and 

 lobbed home some twenty lengths to the good. There 



