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THE CRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE. ll seems destined that stare of one sort or another shall lie associated with Sir Charles Asslie-ton Smiths horses as far as concerns the Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase, and the latest is in connection with Irish Mail, which is said to have encountered a mishap, which, however, it is hoped will not prove fatal to his prospects, and it is at least encouraging that he has accepted, together with last years winner. Covertcoat, which but recently was beaten easily in the attempt to concede a stone to Carrigrue over three miles: but that running docs t ot appear to have made much impression on the handicapper. who still separates them by fourteen pounds at Aintree. Mr. Whitaker has a big hand from which to play, having seven under bis charge, including His Majestys Twelfth Lancer, while Axle Pin can carry the Knowsley colors as well as Carrigrue. I notice that several events are due to close on Tuesday next for the Grand Military Meeting at Sandown Park, among them the Gold Cup, and it will not surprise me to find Twelfth Lancer in the list, as also Captain Paynters recent purchases, Castlewrixon Lad and Finnigan, though the lirst-nained appears to have a line chance for the National Hunt Steeplechase at Cheltenham. The Itoystou contingent is completed by the old stagers, ltory oMoore, Lord Rivers, Great Cross, and the smart young horse Ilugomart. by Jaquemart out of Miss Hugo, that won four of six races in Ireland last. year. With the disappearance of Finnigan, Wilkinstown and Castlewrixon Lad, Frank llarti-gans lot is reduced to a couple in Bloodstone and Jacobus, and .Mr. Usslier is similarly placed with Ballyhackle and Diplomatist, of which the former is pretty sure to be the Simon Pure, as it is a poor advertisement for Mr. N. B. Daviss nine-year-old to lie let off with the minimum impost. Of Mr. Arthur Gordons pair CouvTcfcu II. has a far greater reputation than Fearless VII., but would, I fancy, be more at. home over a racing "Park" country than when confronted by the big staring obstacles at Liverpool. Mr. Hastings has three from which to select, namely. Sir. George Bulloughs Regent, Bally-macad, and listen, of which the last-named is a young horse of great possibilities, a line bold leaper with good winning form to his credit this season, as previous to his last outing, when he fell at Hurst Park, he won at Sandown Park. Newbury, and Birmingham, on which last occasion, in receipt of a stone, lie defeated Rory oMoore by a head, for which beating two pounds have been allowed. Mr. F. Bibby, of Kirkbuid renown, has but one chance, with Thowl Pin. which, however, enjoys the advantage of having won over the country, which of itself is a strong recommendation, and he is not harshly dealt with at 150 pounds. Cowap lias the training of Captain Crawshays Dutch Pennant and Sir Win. Nelsons Iidy Slavey, of which the latter has not fulfilled h?r early promise, whereas the other is a recent winner and lias shown useful and consistent form. Blow Pipe knows his way round, as as demonstrated last Noveniler when, carrying 150 jiounds, be was fourth in the Grand Sefton Steeplechase to Ballyhackle 101! pounds. Irish Mail lot pounds, and Lord Rivers 103 pounds, and here he will meet the lirst-nained at a comparative advantage of twelve pounds, the second nine, and the other two. Of the foreign contingent. Lougchamps and Pompadour IL retired under cover of th" minor forfeit, and LEtang la Ville lias been scratched since the acceptances were made public, but there is still danger to be iioprehendcd from the other side of the Channel with Lutteur III. and Trianon III. left in. Of these two we have solid reason to respect Lutteur III., bearing in mind his meritorious, and be it added popular, victory in 1000 as a live-year-old under the steadier of 151 oimds. and althouglL he has been unsound since, it lias been clearly-demonstrated that, he is all right again and once more at the top of his form, as be has accomplished a pretty sequence of victories quite recently, which redounds greatly to the credit of liis clever trainer. George-Batchelor. Although he came to grief in a sub-: sequent Grand National, ho may for all practical purposes he accepted in the light of an exceptionally: line fencer, lint whether he is big enough to win: again under such a steadier as 174 pounds is another question. Were the weights down a stone all round 1 should with some confidence regard him as. the pick of the handicap, and It "is certainly nothing against him that Batchelors stable is iu grand form. -"Vigilant" iu London Sportsman..
