The feature race of the afternoon is The Challenge-Handicap at 11 furlings, for which fifteen well-known ponies have entered, and on looking over the good work done by the handicapper, I do not see one to point to as the likely winner with the same amount of confidence as I felt when standing on Merry Jester to win last Tuesday's big race, whith he did handsomely.
He is in to-day's race with 3 lb, more to carry. The Frigate and Roehampton, who ran second, and third to him, are both given an extra 2lb. on what they then w out: at. If, as many thought, wimer last Tuesday should have hech The Frigate, then he has nothing to complain about regarding to-day's weights.
In to-day's field, there will be other good ponies that were not out last Tuesday, such as Holy, 158lb. Duke of Kent, 1581b., and Mefistofele, 150b. I do not consider the two at 158b. are too leniently handled, though I think Duke of Kent, who is wary fit, will run well and should piece. Night Express is in at 149lb. which will enable him to go out and ensure a will run race, buf I do not think he will last out the full 11 furlongs any better than he did the 1% mile on Tuesday.
Roehampton may not be too well served if the track is as hard as it promises to be, therefore the three most likely to place are The Frigate. Meyry Jester, and Duke of Kent, and it is in this order 1 shall expect the race to finish.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.