Marvellous Run Continues For Mahler

A step up in trip saw the consistent Mahlervous (7g Mahler - Brooke Style, by Alderbrook) gain a deserved win over fences at Kelso on Sunday.

Placed on three of his four previous starts over fences, the Warren Greatrex-trained bay was sent off joint favourite for the Novices’ Chase run just under three miles. Racing in midfield under Harry Bannister, he took closer order from five out and threw down a challenge to fellow market leader Minella Encore with four fences left to jump. Gaining a narrow advantage at the final fence, he stayed on well on the run-in to deny his rival by three parts of a length, as the pair drew ten lengths clear of the field.

Sunday marked a fourth career success for Mahlervous, whose hurdles wins included a pair of Class 2 contests. Bred by John Mulcahy, he is a full-brother to hurdle winner Deployed (Mahler) and four-year-old maiden winner Brooksway Fair (Mahler).

Beeches Stud sire Mahler is enjoying a terrific run of winners at the moment and sired three Irish point-to-point maiden winners of the weekend. The Johnny Hurley-trained Manothepeople (5g Mahler - Midnight Insanity) dug deep to make a winning debut in the Five-Year-Old Geldings Maiden at Tattersalls on Sunday. Owner/trainer Hurley drove the Thomas Harris-bred bay out to deny the persistent Our Colossus (Yeats) by a length on the line.

Meanwhile, at Mainstown, the Kevin Heffernan owned and trained Mahler Of Autumn (7g Mahler - Colours Of Autumn, by Carroll House) scored by six lengths under Jack Hendrick. Bred by Mattie Ryan, he becomes the first winner out of a half-sister to useful hurdler Slim Pickens.

The previous day at Kinsale, Boro Melody (7g Mahler - Melody Thyme, by Accordion) built on a close second last time out to gain his maiden win by three lengths under Eoin Shaw. Trained by Eoin McDonagh for the Charlie’s Chaps Syndicate, Boro Melody was bred by Mrs Elizabeth Loftus.