Son Of Mahler Takes Grade 2 In Testing Conditions

Heavy ground and a downpour of rain could not deter Chris’s Dream (8g Mahler - Janebailey, by Silver Patriarch) on Saturday, as the Henry de Bromhead-trained bay made all to take the Grade 2 Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park.

An impressive winner of the valuable Troytown Chase on his seasonal return in November, Saturday saw him return to the two and a half mile trip of his successful chase debut last season. He was travelling well entering the straight under Rachael Blackmore and came under pressure from two out, from which he kept on well to win by two and a quarter lengths from Shattered Love (Yeats).

A delighted Henry de Bromhead later said, “Rachael was brilliant on him and he put his head down and battled. To be fair to him he always does.” On future plans, he added, “He's in the Gold Cup and the Ryanair Chase so we'll see.”

The now three-time Graded winner is owned by Robcour and was bought for £175,000 after winning his maiden hurdle for Eugene O’Sullivan, for whom he also won a point-to-point. The son of Beeches Stud sire Mahler was bred by Mrs Mary O’Connor and is a half-brother to top US hurdler Scorpiancer.