CONOR O'DWYER blamed himself for Imperial Call's last fence blunder which led to his fall in Saturday's MMI Stockbrokers Chase at Punchestown, but the Gold Cup winner was not foot perfect throughout the race, jumping sketchily at the first - which caused his downfall in last year's corresponding race and again out in the country. While he had the race at his mercy before rising to the last it was hardly the performance of a Gold Cup winner.

That said, it was Imperial Call's first race of the season and I have no doubt trainer Fergie Sutherland will polish up his jumping in the weeks ahead.

The Champion Chase winner, Klairon Davis, got too close to the fourth last and paid the penalty. He was about six lengths adrift of the disputing Merry Gale and Imperial Call and too far off to speculate on whether he might have posed a threat to the favourite before the last. Klairon Davis will reappear in the McCain Chase ate Leopardstown where Imperial Call is also bound, in his case the Ericsson Chase.

Klairon Davis, who had had the advantage of a previous race, was awarded the "best turned out" on paddock inspection but Imperial Call, while naturally carrying some condition, looked stronger and fitter than last year and strode quickly around the ring as if anxious to get on with the job.

Merry Gale jumped splendidly but faded on the run-in as Royal Mountbrowne arrived with his challenge to win by three lengths under Charlie Swan. Merry Gale lasted out much better than in his two previous races albeit still a long way below his former best.

"The horse is fine. There'll be another day. That's just another chapter," said Imperial Call's pragmatic trainer.

Son Of War returned to his best with a splendid weight-carrying performance to win the Conynham Cup and course specialist Risk Of Thunder, carrying the colours of film star Sean Connery, who bought the horse after a visit to Punchestown last April, won the Rank Ward and Co Solicitors Cross Country Chase for the third year in succession.

Ladbrokes have cut Gold Cup winner Imperial Call to 3 to 1 from 7 to 2 to retain his title despite falling in his comeback at Punchestown.

"Increasing attendances at race meetings must be a major aim of the industry as a whofer the Minister for Agriculture, Ivan Yates, said in his address to the annual Moyglare Stud dinner at the Berkeley Court Hotel, Dublin on Saturday night.

Attendances declined from a 1989 figure of 1.1 million to a million in 1993 and have only grown slowly in the past three years to the level of 1989.

Interestingly, though long known or suspected, the Minister pointed out that the core group of regular racegoers are males over 50 that the 15 to 25 year olds are very much under represented at racecourses and Dublin dwellers are also under represented.

"There is plenty of work to be done to promote the sport in this city and among young people. It is generally accepted that if people go racing when they are young there is a better chance that they will go racing later on in their lives," Minister Yates said.

Racegoers will readily agree with the Minister when he said that entry prices to racecourses pitched at levels which aim to maximise gate receipts inevitably tend to limit attendances.

If these problems are to be addressed the Minister suggested it is worth examining the fallowing points. A more aggressive entry price policy. Special promotions for students and young racegoers both on a daily's and season basis. Discounts for spouses and partners. Family tickets at all courses. A greater availability of complimentary tickets to sponsors and syndicate members and more work with Bord Failte to promote racing tourism packages.

Improved facilities, better prizemoney, more sponsorship and local business support for racecourses and updating of the Tote - "which does not make a meaningful financial contribution to racing" - were among many items highlighted by the Minister in his speech.

On-course betting turnover in the five-year period up to 1995 for bookmakers and the Tote combined has dropped from £122 million in 1990 to an estimated £96 million in 1996. "This situation is poor enough in itself but when it is contrasted with the development of other forms of gambling over the same period it is abysmal," said Minister Yates.

In thanking the Authority for "all the hard work it has put in since its establishment," the Minister said that the IHA's five-year Development Plan, which is due for publication on January 8th, will address comprehensively most of the topics which he has touched on.