Klairon Davis star of great day for Irish

"THAT, without a doubt was the greatest thrill of my racing life. I had this race in view for the last 12 months," declared a delighted Arthur Moore after Klairon Davis had swept through to beat dual winner Viking Flagship and Sound Man in yesterday's Queen Mother Champion Chase.

But elation and tragedy can come hand in hand in this game and two races later Moore lost his good and consistent chaser Major Rumpus who broke his back after falling at the last fence when lying third in the Sun Alliance Chase. He was the fifth fatality of the meeting, following four on Tuesday.

Loving Around, the convincing winner of the marathon National Hunt Chase, compensated Edward O'Grady for the failure of Sound Man, while Urubande gave Aidan O'Brien his first Festival success in the Sun Alliance Hurdle. Then Wither Or Which, the banker of the meeting for many an Irish punter, obliged in the Festival Bumper.

Apart from a bad mistake at the last ditch, or four from home. and a lesser error over the next, Klairon Davis jumped well for Frank Woods throughout. That is more than can be said for Sound Man who, attracting a flood of money, displaced Viking Flagship as favourite. But this year's Festival is proving to be a punter's graveyard.

Sound Man and Viking Flagship looked to have the race between them from the third last, and over the penultimate fence, but Frank Woods wisely elected to give Klairon Davis a breather after his blunder at the ditch.

As the two principals faced up to the last they were soon joined by Klairon Davis on their outside.

In the air together, the trio landed almost as one, and as Sound Man was first to will, Klairon Davis sprinted clear to win by five lengths. He thus became the first horse since Remittance Man to complete the Arkle Chase-Champion Chase double.

Frank Woods, who rode Klairon Davis to a narrow victory over Sound Man in last year's Arkle, said: "He was going well but missed the ditch out and I gave him time after that. He missed three out as well, but he has come back and he is as tough as anything. It was pure class up the hill. Klairon Davis is a spring horse and he is the forgotten horse. He wants a good gallop with no messing about."

Arthur Moore, who saddled Drumgora to win the Champion Chase in 1980 - his late father Dan won with Quita Que in 1959 and Inkslinger in 1973 - said he had wanted Klairon Davis to stick to two miles this season. But as there are a shortage of races over two miles, he had a bit further to go before coming to Cheltenham. "He wasn't accustomed to jumping at a slower speed - he wants to get on with it - attack.

Moore said he was happy with Klairon Davis's jumping yesterday, "but he still has a bit of ironing out to do. He injured his shoulder at Punchestown six weeks ago. After he came back from the race he could hardly walk up the lorry. I said that's it. I couldn't believe how he came back. But he has had a good preparation for this and was a fresh horse. He is a fantastic horse to train, he's so brave."

The reception that greeted Wither Or Which and his trainer-rider Willie Mullins after they had shrugged off all challengers to win the Festival Bumper was of Dawn Run proportions. Willie was convinced the five-year-old would win after he had cruised to a 20-lengths success on his debut at Leopardstown.

The Welsh Term gelding, who was sold recently to Belfast solicitor Robert Sinclair for an undisclosed sum, led with over five furlongs to go and once he met the rising hill, fairly powered home in fast time.

Aidan O'Brien not only saddled his first Festival winner but hiss first winner in Britain when Urubande made all the running to capture the Sun Alliance Hurdle. But Charlie Swan had his work cut out to keep Urubande on an even keel, especially on the far side where the horse nearly ran out, and again at the second last where he ducked to the left. Urbande may be green but he is an exciting novice with a big future.

The twice champion jumps trainer had fancied Urubande no end and was relieved that yesterday's ground was drying out by the minute. "When he gets good or firm ground you'll see how good he is," he told me, and granted such terrain at Liverpool, he will take beating in the Martell Mersey Novice Hurdle over two and a half miles.

Loving Around was a most convincing winner of the National Hunt Chase in the hands of amateur Philip Fenton. "This is my first Festival winner it is a dream come true.