It was almost too roseate a vision , but stranger things had happened before , and Jack , just as much as Travers , was an optimist .sx He had left the army in order to keep Lindholme , and while he had the ghost of a chance he was going to fight .sx CHAPTER 5 .sx - Aintree Form .sx JACK had no cause for complaint when the weights for the National and Lincolnshire Handicap appeared .sx In the latter race Freelance had got in with seven stone , a weight no less than his past form entitled him to , but one which Jack felt sure would give him a great chance of victory .sx He was confident that the horse was a reformed character , that his spell of hurdling had given him the courage and willingness which hitherto had been lacking .sx Moreover , he would take the field with the added advantage of being thoroughly fit .sx If the winter turned out a hard one , the trainers of candidates whose activities were confined to the flat would suffer a serious handicap and the hurdlers would almost certainly supply the winner .sx In the National Maneater had been allotted ten stone seven , the bottom weight , but , as he had yet to make his first appearance on a racecourse , what might have been expected .sx Fortunately Jack would be able to ride him ; a course of training would enable the young man to get down to that figure without unduly weakening himself .sx It was not only a big entry for the National , but a strong one in point of class .sx Everyone , or nearly everyone , who had seen the previous year's race was agreed that , but for meeting with interference from a riderless horse two fences from home , Lascar would have won .sx As it was , he finished but four lengths behind the winner , and as he had then carried the top weight of twelve stone seven he would now have to shoulder no greater burden .sx It was almost certain that he would be made favourite when betting opened and remain so until the off .sx The previous year's third , Cymric , had gone up six pounds in the handicap , but , given a fair run , would prove a danger to the best , while The Mite , Freighter , Lemstar , and Durdan had all proved themselves capable of getting round the course .sx It was a stupendous task that Maneater was being set , but Jack refused to believe that he was not capable of it .sx The horse was a born jumper , had pace , and would be receiving lumps of weight from his most formidable opponents .sx In the appreciations of the best known critics on the weights , no mention had been made of Maneater .sx He was not as yet even qualified to run , and for that reason Jack had determined that he should take his chance in the Sandown race in which Travers was going to gamble on Kentucky .sx Though Maneater would be making his debut there was always the likelihood that he would finish in the first three , and once he was qualified Jack would feel much easier in his mind .sx The National was Maneater's objective , and because of that Jack had not entered him in any races except those run over a distance of three miles .sx It seemed impossible , even though he might fail at Sandown , that in some less pretentious event he could not secure the place which was necessary to enable him to compete at Aintree .sx " Shouldn't be astonished if he made hacks of them at Sandown , even if it is his first time out , " opined Joe Byers .sx " That horse is a ready-made National winner if ever I've seen one .sx " But Jack could not agree with him as to the chance of success at Sandown .sx " I'm not going to hurry him , " he told Byers .sx " It will all be strange to him don't forget that and I'll be quite contented if he makes a good show .sx Of course , if we can get a place , so much the better , but I'm not counting on it , so shan't be disappointed if we fail .sx " " Not going to back him , then ?sx " asked Joe .sx " I'd thought of having a pound on .sx " Jack laughed .sx " I should keep it for the National , or , better still , put it on the tote double with Freelance , " he said .sx " You might win a thousand .sx " It seemed as though the field at Sandown would be the strongest seen out as yet in a steeplechase during the season .sx Several National horses would take an airing , among the more notable of them being Cymric , The Mite , and Durdan .sx Cymric was unlikely to have anything to do with the result ; it was his first appearance of the season , and he would not be fit .sx The Mite and Durdan , however , had both shown themselves to be in form , the latter especially having drawn attention to his Aintree chance by the smart way in which he had won a two and a half miles race at Newbury a few weeks previously .sx But the favourite was almost certain to be an animal that was not entered for the National namely , Trimtop , who had proved himself a veritable champion over park courses and had displayed a partiality for the Esher track .sx Three miles was the extent of his compass , and his owner wisely confined him to this distance and less .sx Though he had top weight , he would be bang in the fighting-line when the last jump had been crossed , and he had such a fine turn of speed that it would have to be something particularly smart to get the better of him up the sharp rise to the finish .sx Kentucky must have an excellent chance on his best form , for the previous season , before Travers had acquired him , he had won two good races , though taking no part in the National .sx His former etcher had come to the conclusion that he would not stay the four miles and a half , but Cranston felt sure that he was mistaken , had told Travers so , and had strongly recommended his purchase .sx After coming to Lewes , Cranston had been training him over long distances , and had had his judgment fully confirmed , Kentucky had twice run in two-mile affairs since the opening of the present season , but had run unbacked , and , while in each case completing the course without mishap , had had nothing to do with the finish .sx But now his trainer was satisfied that he was in the pink of condition and convinced that nothing save rank bad luck could prevent him from proving himself the superior of Trimtop and the rest and giving Travers the opportunity to have a good win .sx . Durden , the stable jockey , would ride .sx He was enthusiastic not only about his chances here , but also at Liverpool , and intended to back his mount to win what would be for him a small fortune .sx Jack met Teddie Gieve in the paddock and learnt that the latter was to ride The Mite .sx " What's more , I might win , " Gieve told Mayhew .sx " The horse is as fit as can be , and my people are only frightened of Trimtop .sx Got any fancy for yours ?sx " " Very little except for a place , " Jack answered .sx " I suppose Trimtop is going to be a red-hot favourite ?sx " " Won't be more than a two to one chance , at any rate , " said his friend .sx " Mind you , although he's a good 'un , I think he'll he at a false price in this heavy going .sx Twelve stone is a lot to carry up this hill in a three-miles race , with the mud nearly fetlock deep , " .sx " I agree , " said Jack laughingly .sx It had been raining almost incessantly for a week , and though the day of the race itself was fine the going was very holding an ideal state of affairs for a light-weight , in fact , and for this reason Jack was more hopeful than before of Maneater earning the coveted place .sx Travers was going for the gloves .sx He was encouraged by the unanimity with which the newspapers went for Trimtop as the probable winner .sx " I shall have a couple of thousand on again ; " he told Cranston .sx " How much are you risking ?sx " " Three hundred , " replied the trainer .sx " I only wish I could make it more .sx Burden wants a couple of hundred too , so that will make a round twenty-five hundred , Are you using Bates to do the commission ?sx " Travers nodded .sx " He's as good a man as anyone else , " he said .sx " I'll see him now .sx " As he crossed the paddock in search of the commissioner he saw Abe Morser , but the latter gave no sign that they were acquainted .sx He had duly called at Travers's flat on New Year's Day , and the two had had a long conversation , as the upshot of which Travers had promised to pay Morser a retaining fee of ten pounds a week .sx Travers recognised that the fellow might prove a very useful tool in the future just the man , indeed , who would do almost anything provided he was well enough paid for it .sx He found Bates and gave him his instructions .sx " You ought to be able to get a good price , " he said .sx " They'll all go mad about Trimtop .sx " " He's a useful horse , but he has got his work cut out to win with that weight in this going , " replied the commissioner .sx " Two thousand five hundred will very nearly make yours favourite .sx It's a lot of money for a race like this .sx " " Well , anyhow , you'll be able to get on at a fair rate to start with , " Travers told him .sx " Let the market boil up a bit and then step in .sx " " Trying to teach me my job , " thought Bates to himself , but he merely informed Travers that he could rely on him to get the best price obtainable .sx There was a big attendance , and as soon as betting on the 'chase opened there was a rush to snap up five to two about Trimtop .sx Moreover , the fielders appeared to be in an unusually generous mood , for they accepted a very considerable amount of money at this figure and nine to four ere they reduced the price to twos .sx Probably they too were doubtful whether the topweight could triumph over the burden of the mud .sx The general public appeared to believe that he would be able to do so , for they flocked to support him , and for a time five to one bar one found few admirers of the rest .sx Then , however , small commission was launched for The Mite , .sx which had the effect of sending him to fours , while sixes were offered " bar two .sx " Bates decided that he could wait no longer , and invested many hundreds on Kentucky at sixes and fives before the layers recognised that this was really big business .sx Bates showed no signs of stopping , and many of the " regulars " joined in the gamble .sx This was a " springer , " and no mistake about it , and the professional backers are always quick to follow a lead of this kind .sx If Cranston had satisfied himself that Kentucky could stay three miles , then Travers's candidate was going to prove very dangerous , for there was no denying that he was well handicapped on his last season's form .sx Abe Morser had twenty pounds and a few shillings in his pocket , and he unhesitatingly planked the twenty on Kentucky .sx He was forced to be content with seven to two , however .sx Having stayed his hand too long , he felt sore that Travers had not told him that business was intended .sx " Still , if it wins I'll touch him a bit extra next time I call , " he assured himself .sx Travers was going to prove exceedingly useful to him of that Morser had not the slightest doubt .sx He had summed up Travers's character as accurately as the latter had Abe's .sx There was little interest taken in Maneater .sx He was freely offered at twenty to one , though some good judges were sufficiently impressed by his appearance to invest small sums on him each way on the tote .sx If he should win the dividend would be large , and there are always venturesome ones ready to go for a big win at little cost , however hopeless the chances of it materialising may appear .sx " I expect I shall have a good view of your back , " said Jack chaffingly to Teddie Gieve as they left the jockeys' room to make their way to the parade-ring .sx