Hesseltine agreed and the trial was run, Merlin winning narrowly; but Frampton and Strickland each had instructed their groom to double-cross the other by secretly adding extra weight to their own horse, and both therefore believed they would win the race easily!
Hesseltine agreed, and the test was carried out, with Merlin taking the lead narrowly; but Frampton and Strickland secretly instructed their horses to cheat each other by adding extra weight, causing both to confidently expect a straightforward victory.