[2] He was a dark bay horse standing 16 hands high, and although strong and "wiry" he was not a particularly attractive individual, being described by one observer as "jumped up, peacocky (and) lacking in depth.

[9] Merry Hampton’s dam, Doll Tearsheet, also produced Gay Hermit, who won the Royal Hunt Cup and went on to become a successful sire in Argentina.

[11] Shortly afterwards, the second favourite Enterprise, owned by Baird's cousin, was reported injured and withdrawn from the race and by 23 May Merry Hampton had been cut to 10/1.

The race was run on a "cloudy, cold and raw"[13] day in front of the customary vast crowd which included the Prince of Wales and other members of the Royal Family.

Ridden as he would be in all his races by Jack Watts, Merry Hampton was held up in the early stages as the running was made by Porcelain and the unnamed Shannon colt, before Blanchland and Eiridspord took over and led the field into the straight.

Watts had moved Merry Hampton forward into third, just ahead of The Baron on the turn for home and made his challenge as the leaders began to tire.

Shortly afterwards, it was reported that Merry Hampton had wrenched off a shoe and received a minor injury due to "the prick of a nail",[19] but he recovered quickly and resumed training.

[20] Ten days later, Merry Hampton was sent across the Channel for what was then the most important race in France, the Grand Prix de Paris over 3000m at Longchamp for which he started 4/5 favourite.

Watts settled the colt in fifth place, but when the horses turned into the straight he was unable to make progress and finished fourth behind the filly Tenebreuse who won by two lengths from The Baron.

He recovered however and produced a strong finish but failed by half a length to catch Kilwarlin with Timothy and Phil a head and a neck further back in third and fourth.