COMMONS STEEPLECHASES 33 



she could do in a race. She was, I believe, 

 originally bought in Ireland for ^17, and I 

 purchased her for ^85, with the simple char- 

 acter that she required riding, would face fire, 

 wire, or water, and would not pass a Vet., as 

 her eye was marked by a thorn-prick. I 

 never dreamed of being in the running at all, 

 but thought I would make it hot for the first 

 mile or two, trusting that, at the pace I knew 

 she could fence, I might cut out some of the 

 competitors. I started off with a lead, 

 closely followed by Mr. Mildmay, on the 

 favourite, Discretion, who seemed deter- 

 mined to frustrate my intention to distance 

 my field. By the time we reached the 

 first brook, Sir Savile Crossley, as well 

 as Mr. Mildmay, were close on my quarters. 



Discretion fell, and I kept an easy lead till 

 3 



