Mr. H. M. Ripley 



once in his lifetime ; and if ever there was one we thought it 

 safe to predict would help to uphold our reputation as a 

 "prophet in his own country," Mr. H. M. Ripley, affectionately 

 known to his intimates as " Snip," was that man ; possessing 

 as he did to a remarkable degree those qualifications which in a 

 contest of this description are so conducive to victory, viz. 

 pluck, nerve, and dash. Horses, too, always seemed to run 

 better in his hands than in those of other people, and we could 

 name several instances where he has brought off a long shot on 

 some awkward brute, who no one else could do any good with, 

 and was allowed to run loose in consequence. 



His four Grand National rides were as follows : — 



Year. Horse. Result. 



1899 Mr. C. A. Brown's Barsac, 



9 St. 12 lbs. Fifth. 



1 90 1 Mr. C. A. Brown's Barsac, 



9 St. 13 lbs. o 



1902 Mr. Polehampton's Miss 



Clifden, 1 1 yrs., 9 st. 7 lbs. Tenth. 



1904 Count de Madres' Old Town, 



9 St. 8 lbs. Pulled up. 



by which it will be gathered that his nearest approach to a win 

 was his fifth on Barsac to Manifesto in 1899. 



In 1896 the National Hunt Steeplechase, which for a long 

 period has been a mere shadow of its former self, more's the 

 pity ! was held at Hurst Park, the executive very liberally 

 adding 1000 so vs. to the original stake, on their own account ; 

 the second to receive 150 sovs., and the third, 50 sovs. On 

 this occasion there were nineteen runners, and Mr. C. P. 

 Shrubb's Ludgershall, 5 yrs., 12 st. i lb., starting at 6 to i, 

 ridden by Mr. H. M. Ripley, won by three-quarters of a length, 



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