Panther powers home after slow start

The Blue Panther made the breakthrough on his sixth start, as he justified favouritism in the Tara Stud Nursery Handicap.

Placed on his first three starts, the Michael Mulvany trained bay was last seen finishing seventh of twenty behind Sweet Gardenia in the valuable Ballyhane Stakes consolation race at Naas on Sunday.

Turned out again quickly, the son of Buratino was expected to deliver and was sent off the 7/5 favourite under Gary Carroll.

Slow into stride and pushed along from the stalls, the winner was ridden from the two furlong pole and came with his challenge between horses inside the final furlong.

He powered to the front inside the final 150 yards and kept on well in the closing stages, going on to record a comfortable two lengths success. Amazing Emma (25s early and from 11/1 to 15/2 on-course) finished a good second under Danny Sheehy for Liam McAteer, while All Things Bright ran on nicely to take third.

Mulvany said afterwards: "I didn't think we would have to wait as long to win one. The form of his runs in Navan have worked out very well, and I thought he ran well at Naas last Sunday where he was on the wrong side.

"We were bringing him back in trip but I still think he gets six no problem. His target is the Tattersalls Sales race at the Curragh next month.

"I still think we haven’t seen the best of him and he wants better ground to be seen at his best.

"He's named after Anton O'Toole, the famous Dublin footballer. He was a very nice fella and a racegoer."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee