148 HEROES AND HEROINES OF 



After that he became the property of Major 

 Wombwell, in whose colours he ran second to the 

 Prophet in a race at Aldershot, and when in 

 receipt of nearly two stone beat General Hesse for 

 the Briohton Club stakes at the Club meetino-. 



Finally, Mr. B. J. Angell, popularly known as 

 "Cherry" Angell, bought him from the Major for 

 400 sovs., and forthwith sent him to Lubenham to 

 be schooled for steeplechasing, with a view to the 

 Grand National. 



With Bridegroom,, who had not only won the 

 National Hunt Steeplechase of i860 (the first that 

 ever took place) but had run fifth, fourth and 

 second in three consecutive Grand Nationals, to tell 

 them the time of day^ — ■" and he never told us a lie 

 yet," drily observed his old associate, Mr. Burton, 

 when relating the story of the trial — no wonder that 

 the race we have just described was regarded by his 

 owner and all connected with him as little short of a 

 certainty for Alcibiade, and backed accordingly. 



That Alcibiade was lucky to win there can be 

 no question, for though the finish he rode was a 

 masterpiece of pluck and determination, it was 

 generally agreed by those who knew the horse 

 best, and were consequently aware of his grand 

 staying qualities, that Captain Coventry lay far too 



