292 IRISH SPORT AND SPORTSMEN. 



decision a hard one, retired from his service, and was 

 replaced by Richard Price. 



That same year Sir John ran for the *' Grand Na- 

 tional," carrying- top weight (list. i2lb.) Twenty-one 

 started. Rat-trap, who was ridden by Jem Mason, was 

 favourite at 6 to 1, and at a point more Lord Water- 

 ford's horse and Abd-el-Kader were backed. The 

 winner of the previous year carried 61b. more than he 

 did on the former occasion, and was ridden by Mr. 

 Tom Abbott, the justly celebrated Irish amateur. 

 Ryan was again on Sir John. The winner of the 

 Kilrue Cup that year, Carrig, also ran, and Debeau 

 rode him. At the third fence the favourite refused. 

 During the early part of the contest Tom OUiver, on 

 Tipperary Boy, made the pace good ; Sir John, Peter 

 Simple, and Maria Day, lying close up, headed the 

 others. At the turn coming into the straight, Tip- 

 perary Boy, having shot his bolt, beat a hasty retreat, 

 as did Half-and-Half, who was going well up to this. 

 Maria Day held a clear lead at the last obstacle, but 

 hitting the hurdle very hard, she fell on to her head, 

 and, although recovered in masterly style by Frisby, 

 Abd-el-Kader caught her before she was in her stride, 

 and Sir John was at her quarters. Long before the 

 stand was reached the whips were singing off the trio, 

 and none who saw that grand and prolonged struggle 

 can ever forget it. Shouts of " Abd-el-Kader wins ! 

 the Marquis has it ;" and cheers for Maria Day made 

 the "welkin" ring as, locked together, they struggled 

 up the run home. The light-blue jacket was the first 

 colour lowered, as, before they came to the stand, Sir 

 John was "done," and ultimately, after as fine an 

 exhibition of horsemanship as was ever displayed at 



