SOME LIVERPOOLS, INCLUDING KIRKLAND'S 



field which can scarcely be said to have comprised horses 

 of much class. He was not seen again until the great 

 event. 



In 1905 Kirkland reappeared at the end of February, 

 a ridiculously easy task being set him. He had 

 one opponent, an extremely moderate animal named 

 Spineret, in a little steeplechase at Ludlow, and he 

 naturally ran away with it. His next appearance was 

 at Aintree. Under the care of Colonel Lort-Phillips he 

 had continued in the right way, and judging from the 

 market, the general impression about him was that, good 

 luck being understood, he was the likeliest to win if he 

 could beat Moifaa. King Edward had been so much 

 struck by the Colonial horse's performance that. Lord 

 Marcus Beresford supporting the opinion if indeed he 

 did not originate it, Moifaa had passed into the 

 possession of His Majesty. 



His weight had been raised from 10 st. 7 lb. to 

 II St. 1 2 lb., an increase of 191b., but he was neverthe- 

 less a strong favourite at 4 to i , Dollery, who had ridden 

 Cloister to victory, in the saddle, a late engagement, for 

 on the morning of the race George Williamson, who 

 was to have worn the Royal colours, was kicked whilst 

 at exercise, being incapacitated, and a telegram to Birch, 

 who had ridden the New Zealander the previous year, was 

 too late to enable the jockey to arrive. Dollery, who had 

 been without a mount, was therefore secured. Kirkland 

 was backed at 6 to i, pressed in the market by an animal 



67 



