The Blue Panther roars in for Nicola Burns and father Robbie at 10-1 The Blue Panther was produced fighting fight to make most in the Rose Hotel Handicap over an extended seven-furlongs at Listowel. This was his first start since November last year and he switched to the stable of Robbie Burns and was ridden by his daughter Nicola. The seven-year-old gelding was nicely clear of the field entering the final quarter of a-mile and hadn't been asked any questions by Burns yet. The pair forged on well in the final furlong for a comfortable three-and-a-quarter-length success at 10/1. Nibras Rainbow, the well backed 7/2 favourite, shaded a battle with Liamo (9/2) by a neck for second. This was The Blue Panther's fifth career success for three trainers. Trainer Burns said: "I have the horse four months and the McNallys (owners) had been with me 15 years ago. With Nicola being on the scene now, they rang me and said they'd love to give me this fella to train and for Nicola to ride. "He is a very honest horse and we decided not to change what seemed to work here previously (in June 2024), so repeated those front-running tactics. He broke well and has a touch more toe over this distance than I thought." Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
