Smart mare Gale Mahler back at Cheltenham next week

Gale Mahler will return to Cheltenham next Friday in an attempt to get back to winning ways.

Adrian Keatley’s mare had been a revelation prior to her outing in Grade Two company at Cheltenham’s opening meeting.

She had won two bumpers and her first four runs over hurdles, including a Listed event at Galway where she beat mares from the Mullins, De Bromhead and Elliott yards.

Sent off at odds-on to continue her winning spree, she had no answer to Dan Skelton’s Valgrand, but Keatley feels she has a valid excuse.

“She overheated and was shown to be in season a little bit, which is strange for a mare at that time of year, but there you go,” said Keatley.

“She’s perfect now, not a bother on her and back in great spirits so we’ll take her back down to Cheltenham for the two-five race (Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle).

“She probably wants stepping up in trip to be honest so we’ll go over two-five on Friday week.

“She had every opportunity to down tools the last day but she didn’t, she’s tough as old boots. You can’t be too disappointed when you are second in a Grade Two. The winner looks decent, they are fairly bullish about him too.

“It’s always been the plan to keep her going to the spring now, that was why she had her break after Galway.”