Irish Panther to revert to novice company at Punchestown Irish Panther is to revert to novice company at the Punchestown festival next month, having finished sixth in Cheltenham’s Champion Chase last Wednesday. The nine-year-old scored on his chase debut at Naas in November and having then finished a a half-length second to Romeo Coolio at Grade 1 level during Christmas, then stepped up to open company at Cheltenham. Although Irish Panther finished a 24 lengths-sixth behind winner Il Etait Temps, a final fence blunder proved costly as the nine-year-old was staying on in fourth-place at the time. Patrick Harty, who is joint-trainer with his father Eddie, reports “I'm looking at it through rose-tinted glasses, but Irish Panther was fourth and staying on approaching the last, so could have finished second only for his mistake at the last. He definitely would have been in the first four only for it. “He was up there for a long way although was a touch out of his comfort zone, probably through inexperience.” Regarding the decision to step out of novice company at Cheltenham, he added “we put him in the Champion Chase just because crazy things can happen. The market was dominated by Marine Nationale and Majborough neither of whom featured - one (Marine Nationale) didn't make the race, unfortunately for him, and Majborough didn't perform on the day. Unfortunately, we weren't able to pick up the pieces, but that's why we put him in. "He’ll probably go to Punchestown next and back to novice company. Typically, the best horse wins in Punchestown so maybe next year we will be there competing to be the best horse but, this year, we’ll revert to novice company.” Quotes from Michael Graham
