SOME LIVERPOOLS, INCLUDING KIRKLAND'S 



that he was very little fancied. His weight, lo st. 7 lb., 

 was considered reasonable enough, and a good jockey 

 was secured to ride him in Arthur Birch, who afterwards 

 met with what finally proved to have been a fatal 

 accident when riding in a steeplechase at Gatwick. 



When the first circuit of the course had been com- 

 pleted Moifaa was observed to be in front, striding along 

 with little dash but a good deal of vigour, and evidently 

 not at all inconvenienced by the size of the fences. Away 

 in the country it looked as if Detail might be going to 

 make amends for his failure of the previous season, but 

 at the fence before Valentine's Brook Ambush II., who 

 had been careering about on his own account without a 

 jockey, knocked the unfortunate Detail head over heels. 

 An outsider who seemed to have a good chance as the 

 horses neared home was Pride of Mabestown, a son of 

 the extraordinarily successful sire of jumpers. Ascetic, 

 ridden by a skilful expert, Mr. A. Gordon. He fell 

 vtwo fences from home, and then the way was cleared for 

 the big Colonial — he stood over 17 hands high. The 

 verdict in his favour was eight lengths, and behind him 

 was a great fight for second place between Kirkland and 

 an Irish seven-year-old. The Gunner, ridden by Mr. 

 J. W. Widger, who, as previously noted, had carried 

 off the great race in 1895 on Wild Man from Borneo. 

 Kirkland led the other by a neck, which was extra- 

 ordinary in the circumstances, for Mason was not fit to 

 ride, and really ought not to have taken the mount. 



61 



