THE HOUSE OF ROTHSCHILD 



companion all through it, and, making the fullest 

 allowance for the difference in the weights of the 

 lads who Avere riding them, 1 was forced to one of 

 two conclusions — either that the filly was one of 

 the best things ever known for the Stakes, or that 

 the horse had no chance whatever for the Cup. 

 The second day at Goodwood disposed of the 

 former idea, as Uhlan, then a four-year-old and 

 never quite in the first class, gave 34 lb. to the 

 Hippia filly and beat her by a head, a result which 

 fully convinced me that Favonius was nothing like 

 himself. There were only three runners for the 

 Cup on the following day, the second of whom, 

 was Cremorne, and he, as I have explained in the 

 chapter dealing Avith the career of the late Mr. 

 Henry Savile, possessed no chance whatever. 

 The third was Flageolet, whose second in the 

 Ascot Cup had proved that he would get the 

 distance, and it appeared to me that Favonius 

 could not possibly give him 28 lb., so that I 

 esteemed myself singularly fortunate in being 

 able to obtain 100 to 40 — a very big "plunge" 

 for me — against M. Lefevre's representative. He 

 was ridden by Huxtable, as Fordham could not 

 do 7 St. 7 lb. at that time, although he could 

 easily enough manage a pound or two less in 

 later life, after his long illness and temporary re- 

 tirement. Apropos of this, I have never forgotten 

 a remark made by " The Druid," soon after the 

 reappearance of the incomparable George. He 

 was reading the return of one of the meetings, 

 and suddenly exclaimed, "Fancy Fordham, with 

 all his knowledge and experience, and able to ride 

 at 7 st. 5 lb. ; it seems like a gift from Heaven." 

 It did not, however, require a Fordham to win 

 this particular Goodwood Cup, and no jockey 

 could have obeyed orders more scrupulously than 



225 Q 



