Leading players left toiling as Mighty Blue bolts up in Vintage Tipple

Mighty Blue took a few high-profile scalps in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Vintage Tipple Stakes, running out an emphatic seven-and-a-half-length winner for Joseph O'Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle.

Cheltenham Festival novice hurdles aren't typically a source of summer black-type scorers, but the ready winner had finished a creditable third to Telmesomethinggirl in the Parnell Properties Mares' Novices' Hurdle in March, and improved on her sixth at Cork last time.

Brendan Powell on Mighty Blue: 'Dylan felt the further she went, the better she won'Credit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Princess Zoe didn't get the clearest of runs in her warm-up for the Gold Cup at Ascot but still finished a respectable fourth, while 3-1 favourite Flor De La Luna was in trouble from some way out and Shane Foley eased her down in the straight.

"She's one tough filly who's been on the go all year," assistant trainer Brendan Powell said of the 6-1 winner.

"Dylan felt the further she went, the better she won. She's still a novice next season over hurdles."

Stack's brave call

Fozzy Stack was out of luck with his fifth-placed Ahandfulofsummers in the Cheshire Oaks, but the filly's half-sister Too Soon To Panic was in superb form in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Victor McCalmont Memorial Stakes, winning readily under Chris Hayes.

The 12-1 shot bumped into some useful sorts last term without earning black type, but posted a career best in this 1m1½f event.

Chris Hayes on Too Soon To Panic: 'She was kept in training at four with the hope of getting black type'Credit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Hayes said: "She was deserving of that. It's a serious bit of training and placing. She was kept in training at four with the hope of getting black type and she's a valuable asset now."

He added of the Cayton Park Stud and Sue Magnier-owned four-year-old: "She's done her job and I don't know what Fozzy will want to do next but it was a brave call that paid off."

Irish Derby a possible for Agrimony

Joe Murphy believes he has a high-class prospect on his hands in mile maiden winner Agrimony, and the trainer is considering a Classic tilt after the three-year-old got off the mark at the third attempt under Gary Carroll.

Agrimony: opened his account under Gary Carroll at Gowran on WednesdayCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

The 5-6 favourite stayed on strongly to win a shade cosily, going one better than his Curragh second to Cazoo Derby possible Wordsworth.

Murphy said: "The plan is to go to the Gallinule Stakes and maybe then the Irish Derby – we think he's that calibre. He's a dream horse to have."

Results and analysis

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