GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP 



the mark was frequently demonstrated, and though no 

 doubt Kirkland was one of the chosen few who are 

 vastly better over the big Aintree fences than anywhere 

 else, it will be seen that the horse was able to disprove 

 his critic's conclusion over other tracks. 



As a five-year-old Kirkland started the season at 

 Tenby, where he won the Deer Park Open Hunt 

 Steeplechase by twenty lengths, Mr. Bibby having, it 

 may be noted, taken the previous event with Zodiac. 

 Kirkland then made his first essay over hurdles at the 

 Carmarthenshire Hunt Meeting, where he won without 

 difficulty, and in the following March, the day after 

 Grudon's National, he went to the post at Liverpool for 

 the Stanley Five-Year-Old Steeplechase. There had 

 naturally been great curiosity to see how he would shape 

 over the Aintree fences, and that they were not supposed 

 to be beyond his powers is shown by the fact that no 

 more than 5 to i was to be had about him. Though 

 he did not win, or indeed come very near to winning, 

 he gratified his owner by standing up and finishing. 

 The market fairly well foreshadowed the result : 

 Drumree, an even money favourite, won from a second 

 favourite in Lurgan. Kirkland was third favourite, and 

 came in fourth. Mr. Sidney on Gangbridge beat him 

 for the Welsh Grand National, and though it was some 

 time before Kirkland again got his head in front, he 

 contradicted Mr. Sidney's estimate by running second 

 at Birmingham, Mr. Sidney again on the winner Cavill, 



50 



