NATIONAL WINNER'S SIRE

Royal Mail's recent success in the Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase makes another notch in the remarkable tally of his sire, My Prince. Gr'egalach and Reynoldstown (twice) were also by this horse.

In the autumn of 1915 Lord St. Davids decided to, sell'his blood stock. While My Prince, a handsome four-year-old with a good Turf record, was in the ring the auctioneer could not get a bid for him. He was withdrawn at 95 guineas. The reserve was iOO guineas. Before the horse left the saleyard he was bought "on spec" by the British Blood Stock Agency. Six weeks later he was sold to the Irish Board of Agriculture for £200. On

reaching Ireland he was placed with Mr. A. H. Maxwell at Lusk, near Dublin, ■ . . ■. ■

My Prince has risen to great fame as a sire of jumpers. In 1929 Gregalach won the Liverpool Grand aNtional in a field of 66.. Top weight, favourite, and pacemaker for that race was Easter Hero, an exceptionally brilliant horse. It was not until reaching the last fence that Gregalach caught Easter Hero. The favourite had badly twisted a plate, otherwise, no doubt, he would have led to the finish. .Both Gregalach and Easter Hero were sons of My Prince. Several horses last century won the Grand National on two occasions, but not until Reynoldstown, winner in 1935, scored also last year, hacl there been a dual winner since Manifesto scored in 1897 and 1899.