THE "DARE-DEVIL" PRINCE.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17756, 7 May 1923, Page 12

THE "DARE-DEVIL" PRINCE.

RIDER WITHOUT FEAR.

CONTEST WITH EXPERIENCED JOCKEYS. \SS,Oii OLT3 OT.lf COr.aESPOjrDj;iTT.) LONDON, March 29. For tho Melton Hunt Steeplechase Meeting, yesterday, the Prince of Wale 3 entered four horses—Little Christy, •Tuct an Idea, Little Favourite, and Kinlark—and he rode '. • two events, wearing his new raciiiv; colours (red, blue sleeves, black cap). For the first time he was competing against professional and "crack " amateur jockeys. "Tho dare-devil Prince'' is the nickname which tho Prince of Wales has honourably won among hunting people by his nervo and "thrust" across country. His latest exploit at tho Army point-to-point meeting, when he daahed into deep water to rescue his plunging, frightened mount, which had thrown him, serves to emphasise the appropriateness of the title. Most of the many accidents to the Prinoo of Wales in the field have befallen him simply because he never thinks ot caution. His one object when riding in a hunt steeplechase is to do his best to win; his only idea behind hounds is to take tho straight lino. Club Comment. Apparently, yesterday, he wa3 none the worse for his narrow shave cf the day before at Arborfield, and great cheering greeted the Royal rider. In one of the London evening papers, however, there appears the accompanying comment: "It ought to be stated quite frankly that the continued mishapß of the Prince of Wales in tho hunting field, and point-to-point races, are causing a good deal of comment in clubs and in society, which does not get into the papers, but which is none the less widespread. The season for these things is fortunately coming to an end, but before the autumn the Prince and his advisors ought to consider whether it would not be advisable for him —in the position cf special responsibility which he holds —to confine himself to hunting, and leave the jumps to other people." In the Open Steeplechase the Prince found himself for the first time.pitted against professional jockeys, including Jack Anthony, thrice winner of the Grand National; Captain G. H. Bennet, fresh from his fine exploits on Sergeant Murphy and Gracious Gift at Aintree last week, was also in the field. There wero nine competitors, the Prince of Wales taking tho mount on Kinlark, who was making his first appearance on an English racecourse. The winner, of good races in Australia, Kinlark was given to tho Prince soon after his success in an important Australian steeplechase. He has been allowed amplo time in which to become acclimatised since his arrival ia this eountry. He now started at 5 to I, the actual favourite being Culprit, who undoubtedly represented the best publie form in the race. In the hands of Captain Bennet, Culprit, who now belongs to Colonel George Paynter, proved an easy winner, scoring by twenty lengths from the rank outsider, Climber (o-wner up). Tho Prince was among ihe Biz who completed the course. Kinlark was outpaced in the early stages >f the race, but was running on strongly at tho end. Although he lost some ground again two fences from home, he managod to finish a good fourth, ft was bv no means an unsatisfactory effort for Kinlark's first race over English fences, and in due course he should carry the Royal colours successfully. Mr J. Payne's Oliver HI. led at the start, with Kinlark lying fifth to the first fence, when Charlwalsh eame down. At tho second J. R. Anthony 'b mount stumbled. Passing the stand the first time Kinlark was going well, though the pace was slow. Halfway he lost ground, and at one time •was 200 yards behind the leaders.

Comment on tho Horse. "Hotspur" ("Daily Telegraph j') this morning remarks: "This was Kinlark's first appearance on an English racecourse, and naturally tho horse came in for a lot of criticism. Certainly he is by no means a beauty; still, •when 'picked to pieces,' he has many good points. He recalls to mind Moifaa, whom the late •King Edward purchased after he had won tho Grand National for Mr Spencer Gollan. However, Sinlark sadly disappointed. He made but a poor show, and never once threatened danger. As a twelve-year-old he has probably passed his prime, and, moreover, is slightly touched in the wind. This defect usually occurs to- Austra-lian-bred horses when sent over here late in life; tho effect of our damp climate. The winner of the principal event yesterday turned up in Culprit. Of much superior class, Culprit's task wasjan. easy one. Kinlark was labourin the rear for two-thirds of tho journey, but towards the end of the race put in a good spurt in response to the Prince's, vigorous riding, and only just failed to secure third honours. As the lithe figure in a red, knitted racing jacket with blue sleeves rodo past the crowded enclosure he came in for a well-merited round of cheers, for it was hard work riding a sluggish horse over three miles of fairly stiff hunting country."

Littla Christy Gives Trouble. The Prince's second venture, in the Ladies' Purse, was a moat uncomfortable one, for at the very first fence Mr B. L. Fenwick's Sandown (Captain Bennet) refused, baulking Little Christry, and forcing him to do likewise. Sandown's vagaries also brought down Mr H. J. Joel's Tho Kiss. Both got ovor, but at the fourth fence' tho ; Prince's mount again refused, in com- '■ pauy with Sandown. This behaviour was repeated at tho seventh jump, where the Prince, after six unsuccessful efforts to get Little Christy over, finally gavo up, whilst tho rider of Sandown had also had enough when he fell at tho same fence. It was bad luck, but the Prince smiled when Captain Bennet gavo his wayward mount a cut or two with the whip. Having been baulked more than once, it waa not surprising that the Prince's horse turned sour, and later refused on his own account. By this time Mr "Wilson had secured the spoils on Captain Lowenstein's Don Jose, and the Prince and Captain Bennet turned back find rode to the paddock. His Royal Highness will probably be seen in the saddle a good deal during the next few weeks, for he has nominated Beveral of his hunters in coming events.

Cynical Comment. The "Sunday Sportsman" unkindly waxes cynical at the expense of turf enthusiasts at tho Antipodes. From a column of breezy excerpts I cull the following:— "That it warms tho cockles of the hearts of all good sportsmen to see tho Princo of Wales competing in those most sporting of all races, point-to-points. "That it b remarkable that the

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Prince should not only bo riding m, but positively winning, races. "That this is indeed a triumph of spirit over matter. "That in the days when the Prince was a tiny lad some fool of a groom put him up on a restive pony. ' ",That the little Prince was bucked off and badly hurt. "That not unnaturally the little fellow fought sky of horseflesh for quite a while. . "That, as he grew older, he set Ins teeth, and determined to have another try. "That how well ho succeeded in his 'come back' is known to all the world.

"That blood will tell. "That when the Prince won the pet dog at tho Household Brigade Steeplechases, a cablo to that effect was, of course, sent all over the world. ''That a bright young newspaper in Nov Zealand set up the item lows: 'Yesterday tho Prince of A\ ales won a steeplechaso on a pet dog.' "That presumably a message to the effect that his Royal Highness had ridden the winner of the Waterloo Cup would occasion no surprise at tho Antipodes."

Some Narrow Shaves. It is not .only at horse riding that the Prince is so enthusiastic and fearless—he displays the same dash at every other sport. He has been seriously injured at polo, his eyo has been blacked, and his face has been cut, while there have been "crashes"when motoring. In Franco, during the war, he always wanted to be going up to the line, particularly when a ''show" was due to start. He used to escape from his guardian staff and go into tight places by himself. Among the accidents to the Prince the following aro recalled: — Hunting?— December, 1920, thrown when out with the Hertfordshire Hunt; November, 1922, severely hurt with the Beaufort (the Prince for a considerable time could only walk on crutches) December, 1922, unseated when riding in the Bullingdon Club point-to-point 'chaso; February 9th, a fall when out with the Quorn; March Ist, injury to knee when jumping. Polo —Juno, 1921, a bad fall when playing at Aldershot; May, 1922, injured at Manila. He had to be forcibly restrained from continuing the game. Motoring—October, 1921, collision with a motor-bicycle.and side-car at Eovston-