28o THE RACING WORLD 



less agreeable — much less. I had a bad Tuesday, 

 a worse Wednesday, and on this night, studying 

 next day's programme, Thursday looked ugly : in 

 two of the races backers would, we saw, have to 

 lay longish odds, and the other events were un- 

 usually difficult. As I said good night to my host 

 in his room before crossing the passage to mine, I 

 noticed that he seemed to be hesitating as to 

 whether he should tell me something, and just 

 as I was going he resolved to speak. 



" Look here, old boy," he said, in his earnest, 

 genial way, " it doesn't matter a bit what you've 

 lost these two days, or what you lose to-morrow. 

 Now, I haven't breathed a word of this to a living 

 soul, and I know you won't — some men in the 

 stable haven't been told — but on Friday we have 

 something that cant be beat. In the Prince of 

 Wales' Nursery, old boy, one of the best of all 

 races to go for if you've got the right horse, 

 because so few of the two-year-olds really stay the 

 mile. This is the biggest certainty I've ever 

 known racing ! The colt would win at five 

 furlongs, for he has a wonderful turn of speed, it 

 would be better for him at six, better still at seven, 

 and best of all at a mile ; he stays for ever. Well, 

 old boy ! if he'd been in the Leger to-day I verily 

 believe he would have been close up with the 



