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LUTTEUR III. AND C0VERTC0AT BEATEN. At Hurst Park, England, March 0, a steeplechase of important bearing on i lie Grand National Steeplechase was run, .in which at even weights the French candidate Trianon III. somewhat easily disposed of Iwtli Luttour III. and Covertcoat. Tliis was the Iliampion Steeplechase at three anil a half miles, and London Sporting Life of March 7 had this to say of tlie race: Ml was agreed on all sides that the winner of yesterdays Champion Steeplechase would go a long way In elucidate the Grand National problem; therefore quite extraordinary interest was taken in yesterdays contest, and tlie meeting of Covertcoat and Lutteur III. was quite the titbit of the weeks sport. As tlie wagering suggested, the best judges were unanimous that the race was little more than a match between tlie prospective National winners. They were meeting at level weights, whereas at Aintree Sir Charles Assheton-Sinitir.s horse has a pound the worst of it. but even so Lutteur III. was the better favorite. However, it was not Mr. Hennessys gelding which was the means of bringing about the down fall of the English champion, but another French horse in the delight fully-turned gray Trianon III., which was seen mil in this country three times last year, viz., once at Manchester and twice over the Liverpool country. "In tlie paddock Covertcoat and Lutteur III. were looked over by a critical crowd, and it was agreeil that Covertcoat had never looked brighter iu his coat. He was a trille light in his back ribs, but he has always been that, and certain parts of his frame did not carry the same muscle as when he won at Aintree. Lutteur 111. ha.s thickened with age, and if anything looked rounder and more ponylike than ever. He was well, but can evidently he mailt; litter by the National. The other Frenchman is a different type of horse altogether -more lathy, with greater length and scope, is almost white iu color and iKtssesses a very sensible looking head. Wavelet is a line, upstanding horse, hut he is not sought after to tlie same extent as Covertcoat and tlie two Frenchmen. "With a stone less to carry than he will have in the National, Covertcoat was allowed to stride along from the start not that he set anything like a fast gallop. He just swung along in front, gaining a length or so of his rivals at every fence. Hawkins, who rode Trianon III., was told not to go to the front early in the race, owing to the habit the grey has of jumping sideways when he has nothing to lead him. He anil his rival from France were therefore in the rear most of the time, mid after Fleeting leace had fallen. Lutteur III. was the last of the surviving four, as they entered the linal lap. Lutteur III. just chanced one fence, owing to Wavelet balking him, on the far side, otherwise his fencing was clean and faultless; so was that of Covertcoat and Triannon III. for that matter. "Sir C. Assbeton-Smiths horse must have been fullv six lengths ahead of his opponents as lie came to the first obstacle in the straight, and Lutteur III. was not even third. Wavelet then cracked, and just as Covertcoat was being regarded as an easy winner he compounded in a very few strides. From going smoothly he was in so much trouble that Avila bail to draw his whip. Trianon III. then drew by him on his left, and, to increase the excitement, Lutteur III. began to get his second wind and take a fresli hold. The one mistake that the grey made was at the last fence, which he took sideways, just as his owner said lie would if lie was in front, but Hawkins quickly had him righted, and he linished his race a fresher horse than Lutteur III., which had his tongue hanging out from distress. Covert coats sudden collapse cannot be accounted for, unless it was that he was just short of a couple of gallops. He may stay the distance of tlie National course all right without being able to turn the tallies upon the two French horses, which meet him at Liverpool on so much better terms."
