Big Dreams For Exciting Son Of Mahler

Exciting prospect O’Toole (5g Mahler - On Galley Head, by Zaffaran) made an impressive start to his hurdle career when running out a comfortable winner at Down Royal on Sunday.

An impressive 15 length winner on debut in February, the Stuart Crawford-trained chesnut was subsequently purchased privately by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede and delivered for new connections with a fine second in the Grade 1 Champion Bumper at Punchestown.

Sent off favourite on return in the maiden hurdle, he was ridden to chase the leaders by JJ Slevin and was pushed along to lead from two out. Drawing clear approaching the final flight, he went on to win by seven and a half lengths in comfortable fashion.

Speaking after the race, the delighted winning trainer said, “He's in a handful of the most exciting horses certainly in Ireland this winter. He's a proper Gold Cup type of horse, I hope. He's a big staying chaser and is improving all the time.”

The son of Mahler was bred by Liam Lane out of a winning half-sister to talented chaser Dare Me.