IRISH PANTHER UPENDS 1-4 SHOT KOPEK DES BORDES IN NAAS GRADE THREE

Kopek Des Bordes' attempt to relaunch his chasing career came unstuck at Naas on Sunday, when the 2025 Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner was beaten ten lengths by Irish Panther in the Grade 3 Barberstown Castle Chase.

Sent off the 1-4 favourite for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend on his seasonal reappearance, the six-year-old saw his chance effectively disappear after a clumsy landing over the penultimate fence, by which point Irish Panther was travelling much the better of the pair. The 10-3 chance, trained by Eddie and Patrick Harty and ridden by Kieren Buckley, stretched clear to win in 3m 55.60s on going officially described as good to yielding.

Westport Cove, a stablemate of the runner-up, took third at 14-1, with 150-1 outsider Rockstown Girl completing the field of four after Bowensonfire was withdrawn on veterinary advice.

CHRISTMAS IN MIND FOR THE WINNER

Irish Panther, a nine-year-old, was back at the scene of an impressive success on the corresponding card 12 months ago and once again relished the test.

"He jumped great there and he's won it fair and square," Eddie Harty told reporters at Naas. The trainer added that he could not understand why the gelding had been labelled a doubtful jumper, and indicated that a two-mile contest over the Christmas period is the logical next step.

FRESH QUESTIONS FOR KOPEK DES BORDES

For the runner-up, this was another setback in a stop-start spell over fences. He won on his chasing debut but has not added to that tally since, having been beaten in the Arkle at Cheltenham, where an error at the final fence may have proved decisive, before falling at the Punchestown Festival in the spring.

Ground concerns had clouded his participation in the build-up, with owner Charles McCarthy saying beforehand that "we're just hoping for a clear round". He did get round, but a ten-length defeat at such short odds will do little to settle the debate over where his future lies.

No immediate target had been announced for Kopek Des Bordes at the time of writing.