"I picked him out to replace Adrian Maguire and he preceded Tony McCoy [now champion jockey] in the stable. If he had had as good a season as he had the following year it would have put Richard on the map.Balding confirmed Pritchard's high opinion of Davis's potential. "Richard had a natural outgoing personality and was a joy to work with," he said. He was moving all his limbs," the racecourse medical attendant, Dr David Layfield, said.One of Davis' main employers, the trainer Peter Pritchard, paid tribute to a "good and underrated jockey.""He rode nearly all mine and was the nicest young man you could wish to meet," Pritchard said.

"I'm very shocked.""He started riding for me when he was still a conditional with Toby Balding, but it was probably the worst season Toby ever had. There he underwent surgery for internal bleeding, but doctors were unable to save him."He was knocked out for a few minutes but came round before he went to hospital. The 28-year-old defending champion from Austria needed just 72 minutes to beat Clavet, ranked 33 in the world, and now faces the sixth seed, Alberto Berasategui of Spain, today for a place in the final. Racing SUE MONTGOMERY Richard Davis, the 27-year-old National Hunt rider, died last night after a horrific fall earlier in the day at Southwell when his mount, Mr Sox, crashed at the first fence in the novices' handicap chase and appeared to roll on top of him.The jockey, who was still in the early stages of his career and had ridden 16 winners in his best season, was knocked out for several minutes but had regained consciousness before being taken to the Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham. Graf, who has been jailed in Mannheim, 50 miles south of Frankfurt, since last August, is charged with failing to report some 40 million marks (pounds 17.7m) of his daughter's earnings.Thomas Muster, the top seed, moved into the semi-finals of the Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Francisco Clavet, of Spain, yesterday.

The Yorkshire strugglers are still without utility back Francis Cummins (ankle) and also have injury doubts over Kevin Iro, Tony Kemp, Dean Clark, Adrian Morley and Mick Shaw.. Tennis The scheduled third-round play at the Legg Mason Classic men's tournament was washed out by rain on Thursday. Paul Haarhuis, seeded seventh, and the No 8 seed, Renzo Furlan of Italy, had each won first-set tie-breaks and hadstarted their second sets when the rain began. He will play stand-off after a string of impressive second-team displays. The 23-year-old will be partnered by Kevin Langer, with Tulsen Tollett switched to centre and Leo Dynevor having to make do with a place on the bench. Ikram Butt will play on the left wing after recovering from a leg injury as the Broncos aim to create a slice of club history by completing their first League double against the Yorkshiremen.Injury-hit Leeds, who are too close to the relegation zone for comfort, are set to give debuts to full-back Marcus St Hilaire, their recent signing from Huddersfield, and teenage centre Adam Hughes.

The Eagles ended a six-match losing sequence at Castleford on New Year's Day. The 42-12 win was their first ever at Wheldon Road. Halifax will have new Australian signing Johnny Brewer, who arrived from Parramatta in midweek, on the bench as they seek a third win in four games at home to Workington.Workington, who drew 18-18 with Halifax at Derwent Park in May but have lost on their last five visits to Thrum Hall, have scrum-half Ian Watson, their new loan signing from First Division leaders Salford, among their substitutes.London are likely to give a first start to the former Cambridge University skipper Adam Spencer at home to Leeds. Sheffield will have all three Fijians - full-back Waisale Sovatabua, winger Joe Dakuitoga and prop Mala Yasa - in their starting line-up for the first time. Richard Gay, the Castleford full-back who has not played in the first team since damaging knee ligaments more than two months ago, is in contention for a place on the bench at home to Sheffield tomorrow. All they have to do is put their offer on the table."The Argyle manager, Neil Warnock, refused to comment on the threat to sell.Leeds United's attempts to sign players suffered another damaging setback yesterday when the High Court hearing into the proposed takeover by the Caspian Group was postponed until Monday.Howard Wilkinson, the Leeds manager whose transfer dealings are on hold until the outcome, said: "We are already a fortnight behind schedule."Trevor Francis, the Birmingham City manager, has been told that he must sell to raise money before the pounds 1.2m move of the striker Mike Newell from Blackburn Rovers can go ahead..