Panther on the prowl on Ormonde

Brown Panther faces four rivals when he makes his seasonal reappearance in the Boodles Diamond Ormonde Stakes at Chester on Friday.

This Group three contest has always been the intended opening target for last year's St Leger runner-up, who is trained locally by Tom Dascombe and bred and co-owned by Manchester United footballer Michael Owen.

Brown Panther will not have things his way as his opponents include Sea Moon, who was just half a length behind him at Doncaster in September. Sir Michael Stoute's colt then went on to take second place behind St Nicholas Abbey in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Churchill Downs.

The latter's trainer, Aidan O'Brien, relies upon Memphis Tennessee, who is on a comeback mission. It will be his first start since finishing third behind stablemate Treasure Beach in the Irish Derby last June.

Taking on these three classy performers are Donal Kinsella's Vivacious Vivienne and Alastair Lidderdale's debutant Calico Cat.