126 THE GRAND NATIONAL. 



It seemed odd to see such a fine horseman as 

 George Stevens standing- down this year, but it was 

 not because there was no demand for his services — 

 very much the contrary indeed ; it transpiring that 

 he had actually refused no fewer than thirteen offers in 

 order to ride Jealousy, his sole reason for not doing 

 so beino- that those who had first call on his services 

 declined to give their consent. 



