Time out for Panama

Panama Hat will be given some deserved time off before trainer Andrew Oliver aims even higher next season.

The red-hot three-year-old had won five races on the spin during a terrific campaign, but failed by a quarter of a length in his quest for a six-timer in a mile-and-a-half handicap at the Curragh on Sunday, giving nearly a stone to the winner.

Oliver is convinced Panama Hat's future is now in stakes races over staying trips, and would be unfazed if the Team Valor-owned chestnut was now signed off for the season.

He said: "The horse did us proud. He ran a blinder, but was probably giving too much weight away against an improving horse from Ballydoyle (Adjusted).

"He showed grit and determination, and stuck his head out when it mattered.

"He's had a tremendous campaign and will probably now have a break with a view to next season.

"He's proven he is a stayer and we will probably now be thinking of a summer campaign next year now.

"We may think about something like the Vintage Crop at Navan next May as we believe he could end up being a Cup horse."

Barry Irwin, president of Team Valor, has similarly high hopes for Panama Hat.

He told www.teamvalor.com: "This is the most improved horse we have ever had.

"It does not take a leap of imagination to think that if he didn't have trouble early in this race he might have won it.

"This was a tough race, and we're not going to push it with this horse.

"He will get the winter off and then next year we will look to run him in Group races and stretch him out and see if we can turn him into a top staying horse."