Gale Mahler © Photo Healy Racing
The prolific Gale Mahler will bid to secure a seventh successive victory in the Sky Bet Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on Friday.
Adrian Keatley’s mare has not looked back since finishing fourth on her debut at Sedgefield in March, with back-to-back bumper wins at Southwell and Kelso followed by four triumphs over hurdles.
She has not been seen in competitive action since dominating her rivals in a Listed event at the Galway Festival in late July, but is reported to be in rude health ahead of her return on the opening day of Cheltenham’s season.
“She came back to the yard in good nick after her break after Galway and we’ve been happy with her ever since,” said Keatley.
“We’re very much looking forward to Friday, hopefully we can get the job done with her and get her owner (Jimmy Fyffe) his first winner in Cheltenham.
“It can’t be any harder than going to Galway I’m sure.”
On future plans, the trainer added: “We’ll get Friday out of the way and see where we go from there.
“Maybe we’ll go back there for the November meeting, but we’ll very much get Friday out of the way first.”
Gale Mahler is opposed by four other unbeaten hurdlers in the Paul Nicholls-trained Brave Knight, Dan Skelton’s Valgrand, Imaginarium from Olly Murphy’s yard and Sam Drinkwater’s Strong Foundations.
The Grade Two line-up is completed by Dancing In Paris, an 87-rated Flat performer for Ian Williams who makes his hurdling bow.
There is a strong Irish presence on the undercard, particularly in the William Hill Top Price Guarantee Novices’ Chase, with Keatley’s outsider Noble Anthem the sole home-trained runner in a field of five.
The likely favourite is Gavin Cromwell’s high-class chaser Path d’Oroux, with Jazzy Matty (Cian Collins), San Salvador (Joseph O’Brien) and Shecouldbeanything (Gordon Elliott) also making the trip across the Irish Sea.
The most valuable race of the afternoon is the £100,000 squareintheair.com Handicap Chase, with last year’s winner Dancing On My Own (Henry de Bromhead) back to defend his crown under top-weight.
His opponents include Matata (Nigel Twiston-Davies), Calico (Dan Skelton), Arclight (Nicky Henderson) and course and distance winner Triple Trade (Joe Tizzard).
