Mr. William Bevill 



and coming down heavily the other side gave his jockey a 

 nasty fall ; matters not being improved by Fosco, who was 

 following close behind, tumbling head over heels over him. 

 Fate was kinder to him in 1862, as, though he was without 

 a mount in the Grand National of that year, he won the 

 Sefton Steeplechase on Bridegroom, beating a good field of 

 horses. 



In 1863 he rode Cheviots for "Cherry" Angell in the 

 National Hunt Steeplechase, which was run that year at Market 

 Harboro' over an exceptionally severe course, the water in 

 front of the stand being sixteen feet clear. 



Curiously enough, out of forty-three entries, thirty-four of 

 whom accepted, only five went to the post, Mr. Bevill's mount, 

 a 6-year-old carrying 12 st. 10 lbs., being made favourite at 

 2 to I. He could only get second, however, to Socks, belong- 

 ing to Mr. F. G. Calthorpe, who, in the hands of Alec Goodman, 

 won easily by four lengths. 



A common, mean-looking horse, with no pedigree to speak 

 of, Socks, though nominally starting at 4 to i, ran practically 

 unbacked, so little was his chance esteemed by those who were 

 supposed to know most about him. 



On giving up riding over a country, Mr. Bevill devoted 

 himself entirely to flat racing, with what success is shown in 

 the remarkable record given at the end of this chapter. In 

 addition to this, he for many years superintended the 

 training of Lord St. Vincent's horses at Telscombe, near 

 Lewes, on whose adjacent downs Lord Clyde underwent his 

 preparation for the Derby. Since then the property has been 

 acquired by that popular sportsman Mr. Ambrose Gorham, 

 owner of Shannon Lass, the Grand National winner of 1902, 

 who was also prepared for her engagements on this historic 

 training ground. 



61 



