THE GRAND NATIONAL. 29 



Tup: Race. 



There had been a sharp frost overnight, and 

 there was still a thin coatino- of ice in the ditches, 

 but no exception could be taken to the going 

 when the pick of the steeplechase world went to 

 the post to compete in the race, which, commenc- 

 ing live years before in so unpretentious a way, 

 has since developed into a national event, which 

 at the present time runs that old-established 

 favoLH'ite the Derby very close indeed lor public 

 favouritism. 



Lord Sefton gives the signal and away they go 

 on their tour-mile journey. The sportsmen from 

 the Vale ol Aylesbury, wh(j have journeyed to 

 Aintree to see Consul win, are soon out of their 

 misery, tor the Baron's horse retuses at the very 

 first fence, so does Romp, whilst the fifth fence 

 proves fatal to Victoria. Vanguard leads to the 

 wall, but the hard pulling Peter Simple, who has 

 got the upper hand of his jockex', runs up to him, 

 and the pair take it abreast, closely followed by 

 Nimrod and The Returned. 



And now the excitement begins in earnest; for 

 linderbox, s^oin"' at the wall full tilt, catches it 



