Irish Panther set to take on Romeo Coolio in Grade 1 Christmas test after sparkling chase debut

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Eddie Harty thinks learning to settle has been the key to Irish Panther, who is 4-1 with Paddy Power for the Racing Post Novice Chase on December 26, after a hugely impressive chase debut at Naas.

The eight-year-old has now won his last two starts and has only Romeo Coolio and Salvator Mundi ahead of him in the market for the Grade 1 at Leopardstown.

Irish Panther finished in the first three in nine of his first 11 starts, seven of which came for the late Edward O'Grady, but ran some cracking races in defeat, particularly when placed in a pair of handicaps at Leopardstown last season.

A keen-going nature meant he often needed to be ridden cold, and often went luckless, but he's proving a different proposition this season. 

He began the campaign over hurdles at Clonmel, where he barely came off the bridle to record a 31-length victory. Eddie and Patrick Harty then elected to go over fences and he sparkled at Naas last month, jumping excellently en route to a comfortable eight-length victory over Jacob's Ladder.

Attentions now turn to Grade 1 company at Leopardstown, for which he has attracted plenty of support in a market headed by the Gordon Elliott-trained Romeo Coolio, who is 4-9 favourite.

"The plan is to go to Leopardstown," said Harty. "He was good at Clonmel in his maiden hurdle and he won very well over fences at Naas. He couldn't have done any more on his first run over fences than he did. 

"We worked a lot last year on getting him to race less keenly but this season, whether it's the summer's break or what, he seems to have mellowed a bit and he's not as free in his races. That's a big help to him."

Eddie and Patrick Harty: joint-trainers of Irish PantherCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Harty, who holds a joint-licence along with his son Patrick, last tasted Grade 1 success in 2016 with Coney Island in the Drinmore and is keen to test Irish Panther's mettle against the top Irish novices.

He explained: "We kind of said at Clonmel not to be waiting around on him as he was the best horse in the race and maybe that was enough to chill him out. He's always been a very good jumper and before we had him, he was placed in a point-to-point. 

"He always had the scope over hurdles to go over fences. The Naas form has worked out well with Jimmy's [Mangan] horse [Pure Steel, third] winning well on Thursday. 

"You'd have to be hopeful. It's a big step up but realistically there aren't many other options. He's either able for it or he's not, and there's only one way of finding out. All roads point to the Racing Post Novice Chase on that evidence and he's entitled to his place in it."

Racing Post Novice Chase, 2.20 Leopardstown, December 26
Paddy Power: 4-9 Romeo Coolio, 3 Salvator Mundi, 4 Irish Panther, 9-2 July Flower, 16 Fleur In The Park, 20 bar.

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