Review leopardstown 6th Nov

Johnny Murtagh was crowned champion jockey after pulling clear of title rival Pat Smullen with a double on the last day of the season at Leopardstown.

Murtagh virtually confirmed his championship win when guiding Takar to victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C & G) Maiden.

John Oxx's 11-4 favourite was always well placed and when Murtagh gave him his office, he pulled eight lengths clear of Place Vendome

Murtagh was shown at his strongest when getting Call To Battle home in the Listed Eyrefield Stakes.

Oxx's 7-2 chance travelled nicely into contention on the home straight, but Murtagh had to get serious on the stoutly-bred juvenile to deny Alla Speranza by half a length.

Murtagh's title victory was confirmed when Smullen's mount Coolnagree could not fend off the late challenge of 5-2 favourite Backbench Blues in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Nursery.

Smullen gained some compensation in the Leopardstown November Handicap as Hidden Universe (7-2) completed a double for Dermot Weld when getting up late to beat Pozyc by three-quarters of a length.

Weld sent a quartet of runners for the Knockaire Stakes and Enchanted Evening (16-1) obliged for the master of Rosewell House when finishing fast under Pat Shanahan to beat Shirley Blake by a length and a quarter.

Weld's top weight Unaccompanied put up a brave battle in the Book Online For Christmas Handicap, but had no answer to the finishing kick of Jim Bolger's Tobar Na Gaoise (10-1), who kicked two lengths clear under Kevin Manning.< Twirl was an impressive all-the-way winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.

Sent straight to the front by Seamie Heffernan, the 10-11 favourite was not hard pressed in the home straight as she stretched six and a half lengths clear of Maude Adams < First Lieutenant ran out a bloodless winner of the Grade 3 Dial-a-Bet 1800 721 821 EBF Novice Chase at Cork, giving Davy Russell a graded-race double after Sword Of Destiny scored over timber earlier on the card.