Son Of Mahler Impresses Over Fences

A step up in trip saw An Fraoch Mor (6g Mahler - Figal Maid, by Winged Love) gain his first win over fences at Navan on Sunday.

The Ross O’Sullivan-trained bay won a maiden hurdle in March and finished second on his chase debut and seasonal return last month. Stepping up to two and a half miles on Sunday, he chased the leaders in the early stages and improved to lead from halfway under Robbie Power. Extending his advantage from the second last, he stayed on well to win by 11 lengths with ease.

Speaking after the race, the winning trainer said, “He's a horse we like a lot and I was very nervous coming here today. He'd a lovely run the last day behind Debuchet for his first run over fences and it was always the plan to come here. I think he's going to be a lovely staying chaser. He loves jumping fences and is 17 hands. He's a real three-mile chaser and has a lovely attitude.”

Owned by TJ Ward, An Fraoch Mor was bred by Robert McCarthy of the Beeches Stud, where his sire Mahler stands.