English Sporting.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5272, 31 May 1895, Page 4

English Sporting.

London, April 20. Keen winds and bright weather have made raoegoing enjoyable of late, but, the "merry pan tor" continnea to have the worst of the deal with the bookmaker. The book is little guide to him at present;. for but few horses are yet in form,, and trials generally have been woefully misleading. Last week a field of sixteen respectable handicap horses went to the post for the Nottingham Spring Handicap, of £1000, contested over the straight miU. The "talent" speedily found a favourite in Harfleur 11. syrß, Bst 41b, but Lesterlin, by Gallinule— Meliora, 3yrß, Tat 81b,. was well backed at a point longer odds, viz., 7 to 1, and Sancho Panza, 4yrs, ?at lib, was almost as good business, whilßt. at tens Worcester Bst2lb and John Mprgan 7st 71b had strong followinga, and plenty of money was forth* coming fox Stowmarket 83t 21b, Acrobat 7et 61b, Concealment 7st 21b and Dumbarton 93t. Sancho Fanza made play at flagfall,,and at a strong pace the field to the halffjjistance, when Lesterlin headed him, and, sailing home under the whip won easily by a length. Antonio Fierri was th&d, a head in front of the despised Siwonburn.

A little later in the week a field of eight turned out for the Leicester Spring Plate, a .£3OO mile handicap. The field included Colonel North's Soult, syra, 7st 51b j Middleham, 6yn, 7st lib ; Pepper[corn, syrs, fat 101 b; Theseus. 4yrs, 7st; Earl of Annandale, 6yra, Gat 121 b; Royal Sovereign, 6st 81b j Sabrina, aged, 7st 21b. The Earl cut out the pace, attended by Middleham and Peppercorn, and kept in front till nearing the distance. Then his immediate followers headed the co!^ and from the dißvSß^? raced, home. &Ide by eide, disopp Just managing t6 get Middleham'g nose in front as the pair flashed past the post'f Tha winner was the friendless one of" the 1 fieWj 20 t0 1 being offered against him as the sag fell. Peppercorn was, on the contrary, ft hot i aYOUtite at 0 to 4, On Easter Monday there were several race-meetings in progress, but the principal event of the day's sport occurred at Manchester, where the Lancashire Steeplechase, of was decided over a time-and-a-half mile .course. Amongst the competitors was tha tfrand National hero, Wild Man from Borneo, with 12st m the Baddle, but the old horse finished eleventh in a field of fifteen. Mr H. M. Dyas pocketed the purse bytheflldof Gentle Ida, a six-year-old daughter of Mano War, which carried lOab 21b. The mate won easily from Lady Helen lOst 51b, and Biscuit lOst 61b. Gentle Ida started at 7 to 1, the favourite for the race being Mr Linde'a The Jew lOat 111 b, at 9to 2. The winner romped home in a fashion which suggested that a Grand National had been thrown away ___— — . .