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Lot Essay
Inspired by Aldin's illustrations for Masefield's poem Right Royal, this image shows the favourite 'Right Royal' in the stables before the race and an inset of the horse and his rider racing hard.
Although not drawn for the poem, it is easy to imagine that Aldin had the following lines in mind as he depictured the horse in his stable:
'In a race-course box behind the Stand
Right Royal shone from a strapper's hand.
A big dark bay with a restless tread,
Fetlock deep in a wheat-straw bed;'
Despite being relatively green the odds on 'Right Royal' to win shift from 20-1 to 7-1 overnight and he starts the 'English Chaser's Cup' as favourite. However, the race is not easy for the horse and his jockey, Charles Cothill, and after taking a tumble early on it looks like the pair will finish last. But neither horse nor rider are willing to give up and miraculously they fight their way back from behind to find themselves amongst the leaders in the final stages.
'Then the White Post shot backwards, Right Royal had won.'
Although not drawn for the poem, it is easy to imagine that Aldin had the following lines in mind as he depictured the horse in his stable:
'In a race-course box behind the Stand
Right Royal shone from a strapper's hand.
A big dark bay with a restless tread,
Fetlock deep in a wheat-straw bed;'
Despite being relatively green the odds on 'Right Royal' to win shift from 20-1 to 7-1 overnight and he starts the 'English Chaser's Cup' as favourite. However, the race is not easy for the horse and his jockey, Charles Cothill, and after taking a tumble early on it looks like the pair will finish last. But neither horse nor rider are willing to give up and miraculously they fight their way back from behind to find themselves amongst the leaders in the final stages.
'Then the White Post shot backwards, Right Royal had won.'