Champion chaser fails to sparkle

THIS YEAR'S Queer Mother Champion Chase winner, Klairon Davis, failed by half a length to give a stone and a half to a fitter Fiftysevenchannels, the outsider of three runners, in yesterday's Commology Handicap Chase at a well attended Leopardstown.

Ridden by in-form Charlie Swan, Fiftysevenchannels made much of the running and was always jumping well. The seven-year-old was backed from 20 to 1 to 14 to 1, but tote patrons were entitled to feel hard done by with a return of just over 5 to 1. Arthur Moore was at least pleased that Klairon Davis, who pulled hard and did not settle that well, had a good blow out and will be the better for the race. He will reappear in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown on December 7th.

A long Flat race season finally came to a close when Wizard King, previously successful in listed races at the Curragh, Fairyhouse and a Group Three at Tipperary, won for the fourth time in this country when making all the running under veteran George Duffield to beat compatriot Inzar in the listed Knockaire Stakes.

Trained at Newmarket by Sir Mark Prescott, this tough five-year-old has now won 13 races in all and almost £200,000 in win and place prize money. He stays in training next year, when it is planned to return him here for some more Pattern events.

Idris, third behind Wizard King at Tipperary and now 7 lb better off, could never get to grips with the winner and eventually finished a disappointing fourth. He may not have been suited to the sticky ground, but the effects of a very busy and long season may have taken their toll. In any case, Idris was the last chance Kevin Manning had of sharing the championship with John Murtagh after two of his fancied mounts had failed earlier.

Two years ago, Kevin Mannint failed narrowly to overhaul Michael Kinane in the champion. ship. Well, in both cases, it was not for want of trying. John Murtagh, who is currently riding in Hong Kong, is now champion for the second year running with 73 winners, two ahead of Man fling. Pat Smullen was leading apprentice for the second year, with 29 winners.

For the record, Dermot Weld (85 winners) is leading trainer for the eighth time with £906,703 first-place prize money, £341,850 contributed by Zagreb in the Budweiser Irish Derby. With place money taken into account Weld surpassed the £1 million mark. Numerically, Jim Bolger emerged on top with 94 winners while Aidan O'Brien finished third with 82 winners and an imposing £540,931 earned in win-only money. John Oxx, whose overseas earnings were again impressive, finished fourth.

Aidan O'Brien has his charge in near invincible form, and yesterday he saddled three winner in Strawberry Roan. Theatreworld and Choosey Treasure.

In landing the odds by a length and a half in the listed nine furlongs Eyrefield Stakes, Strawberry Roan kept galloping. John Magnier's lightly-raced filly, impressive on her second outing at Navan, led on the rails on straightening for home, and with Cambodian already beaten, there was little danger thereafter.

Christy Roche said Strawberry Roan hated the tacky ground but she could be a Classic proposition next season. She is a half-sister by Sadler's Wells to Generous and is highly thought of by her trainer, who has charge of some very promising youngsters.

Theatreworld, previously successful over hurdles at Leopardstown, was an easy winner of the November Handicap from Magic Combination. John Magnier's consistent four-year-old will now revert to hurdling, with the Ladbroke as one of his prime objectives. According to his handler, he is still growing and should fare well over timber. The Magnier colours were also carried to success in the bumper when the Noel Meade-trained Loose Cannon won in the hands of Greg Harford.

Danoli was anything but spectacular when winning the Quinns of Naas Novice Chase on. Saturday, but he was never in any real danger of defeat over a distance probably too short for him.

His trainer Tom Foley, was happy with the performance.

The plan was to get him around on his feet. The fences here are big but he took a good look at them and jumped them well.

"There is still a lot of work to put into him and I will be very happy if he doesn't sparkle until the new year," he said.