Irish Panther proved too strong for red-hot favourite Kopek Des Bordes in the Barberstown Castle Chase at Naas on Sunday.

Dual Grade 1-winning hurdler Kopek Des Bordes only ran three times over fences last season, but may well have won the Arkle at Cheltenham in March but for a final fence blunder and looked poised to score at Punchestown the following month when falling two from home.

He was a 1/4 shot to get back on the winning trail on this seasonal reappearance at Grade 3 level, but while his jumping was relatively sound, he was ultimately unable to lay a glove on Eddie and Patrick Harty’s stable star.

Irish Panther, who was only narrowly beaten in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last Christmas, travelled strongly throughout in the slipstream of Kopek Des Bordes’ pacesetting stablemate Westport Cove and after hitting the front early in the straight, the 100/30 chance did not take his foot off the gas, coming home 10 lengths clear of the market leader without being fully extended.

“It was good, he promised to do all those kind of things last year,” said Eddie Harty.

“I would think Willie’s horse will improve, but I would hope our one will as well.”

Irish Panther is 10/1 for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, in which he finished sixth last season. Kopek Des Bordes was eased to 6/1 from 7/2.

Considering future plans, Harty added: “The obvious one (next race) is the two-mile at Christmas (at Leopardstown). He will be in open company but that’s what you are in now. He deserves his shot.

“He jumped great there and he’s won it fair and square. There were no hard luck stories, no horse made a mistake, no horse fell. He’s just won it on the day.

“It’s first time out for all of them, which one improves more during the course of the next four weeks will probably dictate the rest of the season, but we’ll take that.

“I can’t understand why some people had him down as a sketchy jumper, his forte is jumping and he never put a foot wrong today, and he has a big engine.

“We’re just lucky to have him at the time we have him. It’s great for Brian (Whelan) and Jen (Coyle), it’s their first venture together and what a horse they got.”

While Willie Mullins was disappointed to see Kopek Des Bordes suffer another defeat, he feels there were positives to take from his performance.

He said: “Looking at them in the parade ring, I thought the winner probably pulled out sharper than we did and I hope we’ve got a lot of improvement to do.

“I was much happier with the way he jumped. It was still not perfect, but I think a better pace and once he gets more confidence in his own jumping he’ll be good.

“I’m keen to stay over fences. Some people are saying go down the Champion Hurdle route, but I’m always keen to keep going down the chase route until you have to stop. He’ll run again over fences, possibly at Christmas.”

Winning chasing debut

High-class hurdler Anzadam made a bright start over fences in the Into Kildare Beginners Chase.

The Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old mixed it with the best around over hurdles with his last five starts coming at Grade 1 level, but on more than one occasion his enthusiasm proved his undoing.

The champion trainer hoped he would be more amenable faced with larger obstacles and that proved to be the case, with Paul Townend’s mount justifying cramped odds of 8/13 with a comprehensive seven-length success over Barry Connell’s Grade 1-winning novice hurdler Eachtotheirown.

“I was much happier with the way he settled in the race than he has been doing over hurdles,” Mullins said of the winner.

“I think he enjoys his jumping and it takes his mind off being too keen. I’m looking forward to a nice season with him if he can keep improving like that.

“He has natural ability but he doesn’t often get to use it because he’s too enthusiastic. Fences seem to temper that. I’d imagine Christmas (at Leopardstown) will be a nice plan.”

Henry de Bromhead can begin to make bigger plans for Minella Machine after he sauntered a 22-length victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle.

Another short-priced favourite at 4/9 after landing a Wexford bumper in the spring, the five-year-old was much the best under Darragh O’Keeffe.

De Bromhead said: “He did it really nicely. He’s a horse we like at home and you’re always hoping that they’ll go and do something like that

“It was a lovely start for him. I think there is a novice hurdle in Navan in mid-December, off the top of my head, but I haven’t discussed it with anyone so I don’t know yet.

“He’s a fine big horse, he jumped well bar the last. He’d be high up the pecking order in the yard.”

Paul Nolan continued his good run of form as Le Moulin Rouge claimed top honours in the Listed Tote Guarantee, Never Beaten By SP Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle.

The 11/2 market leader wandered under pressure in the hands of Eoin Staples, prompting a stewards’ inquiry, but he was two and a half lengths in front of Balko D’Ange at the line and the placings remained unaltered.

“The start didn’t suit him as he (Staples) had to sort of gun him as he missed the break a little bit when they did eventually go. Then he sort of launched at the first few hurdles,” said Nolan.

“For his first run in a handicap, we decided to make the running with him. He had a lovely weight and it worked. He stayed at it when they came at him.

“He’s a nice young horse and it was a great pot to get.”

The Mick Winters-trained Shellrunforbriggs (15/8 favourite) and Brian Hayes edged out Takenasred by a nose in the Mongey Communications Novice Handicap Chase, while the Bet With Tote On Racing & Sports Irish EBF Mares (Pro/Am) Flat Race went to Gordon Elliott’s 6/5 favourite Ballydonagh Girl, ridden by Harry Swan.

“She’s a grand honest filly. She’ll probably want a bit further,” said Elliott.

“That was only a bonus, she’ll be better whenever she gets a jump. We’ll try and get a bit of black type somewhere in a bumper before we go the other road.”