Presenting Mahler© Photo Healy Racing
Listowel winner Presenting Mahler bids for a quick follow up when switching back to hurdles at Ballinrobe on Friday.
The Mahler mare ended a frustrating run of placed efforts for trainer John Ryan at the Kerry festival in some style when scoring by 21 lengths in a handicap chase on the final day.
Six days later she is back in action in the Irish EBF John Mulhern Mares Handicap Hurdle.
The handicapper reacted to her victory last Saturday with a 10lb hike and she now enjoys a 12lb lower mark back over timber in the two-and-a-half-mile contest. Water Sprite looks chief among the opposition in the E25,000 contest after running well on her return to jumping at Kilbeggan a fortnight ago.
She finished third to Brex Drago then and the form has worked out well with the winner scoring again at Listowel and fourth-placed horse, Deor, also successful at the Harvest Festival.
Her trainer Gordon Elliott looks to have a very strong hand in the opening Jimmy Beef 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle with three horses making their debuts over jumps.
Gigginstown purchase Flat To The Max looks the most interesting of the trio having won his sole start on the Flat in fine style.
He was bought out of Ger Lyons' yard after his win at Navan in April and the fact that he handled heavy ground then looks a big plus as he starts his National Hunt career. Monkeylou bounced back to winning ways on the level at Killarney and was the highest rated of the field on the Flat with a mark of 85, while Caldbeck had some decent maiden form on the level and could be another nice sort for hurdling.
Willie Mullins is also well represented on the card and introduces a smart French bumper performer in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle.
Dont Hestitate won a Grade Three contest in her native land and looks set to be a short price to open her jumping account at the first time of asking for Closutton in a weak-looking contest. Montalbano also looks to have found a nice opportunity to get his head in front in the JJ Burke’s Peugeot Chase.
The Rich Ricci owned gelding is clear best at the weights in the two-mile-three-furlong contest, which looks like it could serve as a confidence booster for the season ahead.
Mullins also saddles a nicely-bred newcomer in the bumper in the shape of Beat Hollow gelding Mt Leinster He is a half-brother to the yard’s former Grade One winner Blackstairmountain.
