GREEN; YELLOW SLEEVES, BELT, AND CAP 



fair to assume that the cheers were also meant as a 

 congratulatory tribute to an owner who was recognised 

 as a staunch supporter of 'chasing, and whose sporting 

 policy was warmly appreciated. 



Though Kirkland was only nine years old and it 

 seemed natural to expect other successes from him he 

 never won again ; but he was still to make a stir in 

 the world after a long interval. From the March of 

 1905 until the February of the following year nothing 

 was seen of him, and then the exhibition was not 

 encouraging. He was one of three starters for an Open 

 Steeplechase at Hurst Park with odds of 100 to 7 

 against him, 6 to 4 being laid on a remarkable jumper 

 named John M.P., 7 to 4 against a good animal named 

 Desert Chief, the favourite winning by thirty lengths, 

 with Kirkland a bad third. He remained in training 

 but could not be produced again until the January 1907, 

 when he tried his luck without success in a little ;6^40 

 hurdle race at Tenby, for which he was an indifferent 

 third. He was beaten off behind Holy War, Judas and 

 Timothy Titus at Kempton, did better at Leicester a 

 few weeks afterwards, for he ran second, in a very minor 

 event, however, the Thurmaston Steeplechase, Lara 

 beating him four lengths at evens. We shall presently 

 find him again in active service. 



70 



