100 ASHGILL; OR, THE LIFE 



the Earl, too, as he early developed excellences. Any- 

 one that contested the point with Bobby Hill as to 

 whether Voltigeur was the best colt ever stripped, or 

 dared to point out the slightest fault in his conformation, 

 offered a sure and certain cause for a quarrel with the 

 old trainer, who zealously looked after "Volti" him- 

 self. His debut was made on Richmond Moor in the 

 Wright Stakes, when, although very backward, he 

 cleverly defeated Mark Tapley, one of Tom Dawson's, 

 who showed that he could race a bit when he beat the 

 celebrated Nancy at Warwick. Bobby Hill's confidence 

 in him, coupled with the fact that he was fancied by 

 the Earl of Zetland and Mr. Williamson, soon oozed out, 

 and all the Tykes backed him for the Derby. It is 

 said that when Voltigeur arrived in London, accom- 

 panied by the famous " Tubal Cain " of Aske, his 

 progress was like that of a foreign Sovereign. A 

 special train of North Biding farmers accompanied him, 

 and an equally large number of London backers cheered 

 him as he was whirled into Epsom. On the Sunday 

 morning the critics visited the Downs to see him gallop, 

 but owing to the tediousness of the journey " Volti " 

 went very stiffly in his spin, and the critics voted him a 

 lumbering coach horse, whilst sinister rumours as to 

 Mr. Stephenson being largely in the forfeit list caused 

 him to be almost " knocked out." Pitsford and Clincher 

 thus became greater favourites than ever. The following 

 morning the Earl of Zetland received a communication 

 from Messrs. Weatherby that upwards of 400 were 

 due in forfeits from the nominator of Voltigeur, and 

 that amount, they demanded, should be paid up. Some- 

 what displeased at this unceremonious call upon him, 

 the Earl of Zetland determined, upon the spur of the 

 moment, to strike the horse out of the Derby, and 



