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VERMOUTHS SURPRISING STEEPLECHASE. Concerning the Gatwick substitute for the Liverpool Grand National, run March 24. London Sporting Life of the next day said: "Although the flat racing season opened yesterday, people who visited Gatwick were mainly con cerned in the outcome of the Race Course Association Steeplechase, which, by it happy arrangement, was designed to take the place of the Aintree Grand National. Had it been permissible to race at Liverpool, yesterday would have been tbe day of decision, and not only was the original date adhered to. but the distance of the Gatwick contest was the same, to a yard, as the Grand National, while the fences had been reconstructed and so built up as to furnish a really searching test of the ability of the competitors to jump and stay well. In the light of yesterdays contest, however, one is forced to the conclusion that, after all. there is only one true Grand National course. Thus, in contrast with the usual experience at Liverpool, only one horsn — Stags Head — fell in the course of yesterdays contest, and if several horses failed to finish this was due to their tiring in heavy going rather than to inabilitv to surmount the obstacles. Doubtless, however, the onlookers vastly preferred seeing the majority of the horses go round to the orthodox spectacle at Aintree. where, as a rule, a minority of the runners complete the journey. "There were few changes of note in the market on the race, though the overnight favorites. Allv Sloper and bard Marcus, eventually became separated at the difference of one point. Tiie acceptance of the- latest Gatwick form, in preference to the still more recent lesson from Windsor, turned out to lie a mistake. Vermouth winning after a good race with Irish Mail, which was unplaced to him last week, j: ml tie- leading Grand National exponents of a year ago being left, so to speak, in the lurch. What would have happened had Templedownoy been able to run again can only lie surmised, but the result as it stands certainly demonstrates the complete reliability of the present seasons form as opposed to hypotheses based on the accepted Aintree line of reasoning. # "Vermouths success was in every sense a most popular one. the little horse having lieen run out straightforwardly for his engagements, and appealing to the public imagination as a gallant victor under circumstances which were supposed to be altogether against Dim. It was. moreover, din-to bis owner. Mr. Heybourn. that a turn of luck should come his way. as with Desmonds Song and Vermouth he had had to put up with the tantalizing position of second in each of last weeks important events at Windsor. It was natural, therefore, that the triumph of Vermouth, a fully expapei performer, except as regards the stamina necessary to stay so long a journey, was well received as aaaa as he bad shown that all doubts regarding his staying ability were groundless. "laigenist. Lord Marcus. Ally Sloper. Denis Auburn and Jacobus all ran well indeed, and the little-thought of Schoolinoney ran on into third place. The time of the race. 10:22. was slow as compared with that put up by Ally Sbqwr at Aintree list March, viz.. 9:47 r,. and this, no doubt, was line as iiilch to the state of the going as to the geaeral disinclination on the part of the jockeys to force he pace. "Venn. .nth is indeed entitled to the description of a little woicler. Ilex was a small horse, but Mr. George Mas|. rman"s National winner could boast of more flesh and sub tone- than yesterdays Gatwick hero. His owner and trainer will, we are ■are, forgive us if we in all truth describe Ycr mouth .s quite |he meanest-looking and lightest framed Borne in the field far yesterdays big ehaae. Hardly anyone gave him a sei ond look as lie walked ror.i.d in close proximity to the press stand. If quite fie- r» i.. -= t drawn he w:.s nevertheless the fittest horse in the race. No cotton wool policv had been adapted with the sen of Barcadaile, which has beea run out for all his recent engagements, and as pointed out jesterday was badly balked two fences from home when second to Temple -councy so recently as last Saturday at Windsor. .A small-hoicl and ewe-necked horse to shoulder such a burden aa 10 poun SB, and had he not beea one at the stoutest- hearted of horses he eoubl never have made the quick recovery after m.-ik-bag a bad mistake two fences from home. .Mr. Percy llc.vhouru gave 410 guineas for Vermouth as a two-year -old. when wedded out of the What-coinbe stable by Lord Carnarvon."
