A memorable year for Eddie Lynam got even better last weekend as Slade Power, one of the trainer’s star sprinters, followed up his Royal Ascot heroics with victory in the July Cup.

Lynam has long believed that Slade Power could make up into a Group 1 horse and the five-year-old has more than vindicated that view this year. A most impressive comeback at the Curragh in May was followed by a first Group 1 win in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Ascot and he cemented his position as a sprinter of rare quality with an assured display at Newmarket last weekend.

To go with Slade Power, Lynam also has care of the evergreen King’s Stand Stakes hero Sole Power and this duo are unquestionably the two very best sprinters in Europe, which represents a truly outstanding feat for all concerned.

Slade Power, who was sold to Darley for stallion duties last week, is likely to run in September’s Haydock Sprint Cup before bowing out in Australia two months later.

Roscommon

On the domestic front, Jim Bolger’s excellent run of form continued with his haul of victories taking in a second successive win in Roscommon’s Lenebane Stakes with the improved Einsteins Folly. Bolger’s News At Six also continued his rise up the ranks with a third win in succession in a conditions race at Leopardstown last Thursday. The New Approach four-year-old has shot up to a rating of 100 having held a mark of just 72 when winning the apprentice derby last month.

Another big climber in the ratings has been Andy Oliver’s Panama Hat, who has achieved the notable feat of notching up four consecutive handicap wins. The Medicen gelding was rated a mere 60 when getting off the mark at Leopardstown last month and he then reeled off three victories within seven days in the first half of this month. Panama Hat, who has been a thorough credit to connections, has now shot up to a rating of 95 and isn’t all that far off making the jump to stakes class.

Among the other notable efforts last week was a Listed win at Tipperary for Tommy Stack’s unbeaten juvenile Accepted. This colt, who comes from the first crop of Approve, took the drop back in five furlongs in his stride to win the Listed Excelebration Stakes and a crack at York’s Gimcrack Stakes could be next.

Meanwhile, Dermot Weld’s Starlet was an impressive winner of a mile-and-a-half maiden at Leopardstown and this Sea The Stars filly looks ready to hold her own at a higher level.