A group of memorabilia relating to HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and her steeplechaser ''The Rip'' i) an engraved presentation salver to Mr J.

A group of memorabilia relating to HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and her steeplechaser ''The Rip'' i) an engraved presentation salver to Mr J. Irwin from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, the 12in. salver hallmarked London, 1961, engraved in the hand writing of the Queen Mother and reading MR J. IRWIN, FROM ELIZABETH R, QUEEN MOTHER, RACES WON BY THE RIP IN 1961, APRIL 24 ELEPHANT HANDICAP CHASE 2 MILES FOLKESTONE, OCT 18 GRAND SEFTON TRIAL HANDICAP CHASE 3 MILES HURST PARK, NOV 8 STREATLEY HANDICAP CHASE 3 MILES NEWBURY, NOV 23 COTTAGE RAKE HANDICAP CHASE 3 MILES KEMPTON PARK, DEC 9 ERIDGE HANDICAP CHASE 3 MILES LINGFIELD; ii) a (related) signed manuscript letter on Clarence House headed paper from The Queen Mother to Mr Irwin of the Red Cat Hotel, North Wootton, dated 20th February 1962, reading DER MR IRWIN, I AM SENDING YOU THIS SILVER SALVER, UPON WHICH I HAVE HAD ENGRAVED THE RACES WON BY ''THE RIP'' IN 1961. I HOPE THAT YOU WILL ACCEPT IT AS A MEMENTO. ONE ERROR! HOWEVER, IT LUCKILY DOES NOT SEEM TO RATTLE HIM & WHEN HE WAS RACING STRIDE FOR STRIDE WITH MANDARIN LAST MONTH, HE JUMPED BEAUTIFULLY. I DO HOPE THAT SOMEDAY WE SHALL SEE ANOTHER NICE FOAL AT THE RED CAT! I AM YOURS VERY SINCERELY, ELIZABETH R, in original hand addressed envelope; iii) The Queen Mother's racing colours carried by The Rip, a woollen national hunt jacket by D. Gilbert & Son of Newmarket in turquoise with buff stripes, and a black velvet cap with gold wire tassel, also by Gilbert with the maker's label inscribed in ink H.M. THE QUEEN MOTHER; iv) The Rip's horse blanket, by D. Gilbert & Son of Newmarket, in turquoise wool with buff borders, with embroidered silkwork crown and E R monogram; v) a further signed 2-page manuscript letter from The Queen Mother to Mr Irwin in original hand addressed envelope, on Clarence House headed paper, dated March 31st 1963, reading DEAR MR IRWIN, I WAS SO DELIGHTED TO HEAR HOW WELL KINGSVILLE STAR WAS LAST WEEK, AND I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE YOU MOST WARMLY, FOR YOU MUST HAVE HAD A VERY DIFFICULT TIME KEEPING HIM FIT THROUGH THAT LONG COLD SPELL. IT IS WONDERFUL TO KNOW THAT HE STAYS ON - & A GREAT JOY TO ME FOR I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VERY FOND OF THE HORSE. THE RIP HAS BEEN FIRED, & WE MUST JUST HOPE FOR THE BEST. HE IS GETTING ON WELL, & ONE MUST JUST PRAY FOR A FULL RECOVERY. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THE FACT OF HIM HAVING A ''LEG'' RATHER SPOILT THIS SEASON FOR ME, AS HE WAS BY FAR THE BEST HORSE, & ALSO A GREAT FAVOURITE! I DO HOPE THAT KINGSVILLE STAR GOES ON WELL, & I AM DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE TROUBLE YOU HAVE TAKEN WITH HIM. I AM YOURS SINCERELY, ELIZABETH R.; vi) a racecard for the Essex and Suffolk Hunt point-to-point 27th April 1963, featuring The Queen Mother's Kingsville Star running in the third race; together with two press cuttings, and Mr Irwin's personal copy of Ivor Herbert's book 'The Queen Mother's Horses'