"II 



ex 



with 12 st. 7 lb. on his back — took him along 

 to the end, finishing over the three big ditches. 



" Ilex " did all that he was expected to do ; it 

 was eminently satisfactory. At least, a patron of 

 the stable who saw that gallop dashed straight 

 off to London at once for the purpose of back- 

 ing the horse, and I do not think that he experi- 

 enced any difficulty in getting his money on at 

 a nice price. His sudden departure caused us 

 no surprise. He had assuredly seen something 

 good enough to bet on till the bookmakers 

 trembled ; and that is, I am informed by respect- 

 able authorities, always a sight good for sore 

 eyes. How much better, then, if one's vision is 

 absolutely clear ? I rode " Ilex " in the Walton 

 gallop, my brother William was on "Willie 

 Blair," whilst "Swindler" was steered by my 

 cousin, Mark Ward. 



And so, full of hope and confidence and 

 enthusiasm, we arrived safely at Liverpool with 

 our candidate for premier honours. " Ilex " was 

 very fit and well that day ; my riding orders 

 were short and simple. " Always he well up in 

 front with them," said my father; and I may 

 affirm without egotism — or, if with it, I can only 

 crave for absolution — that I carried out those 

 instructions to the letter. I was never out of the 



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