mostly jumped well and went clear 5th, not fluent next, went right and reduced lead 8th, went clear again before 11th, stayed on strongly, unchallenged
chased leading pair until 3rd, badly outpaced 12th, went remote 3rd 3 out, kept on from next, no chance with winner
blundered badly almost unseated rider who lost iron briefly 1st, behind and never able to recover after, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
chased winner, mistake 2nd and reminder, lost 2nd 7th, 2nd again 9th, pushed along after 3 out, ridden and well beaten before next, no chance with winner
held up in 4th, closer in 3rd when hit 6th, went 2nd next until 9th, weakened next, lost remote 3rd 3 out
Winning bumper and hurdler MAHLER'S PROMISE made a very encouraging start over fences when just failing to concede 8lb to El Barracho at Worcester and can go one better. Rocheston scored at Chepstow for Paul Nicholls in November though that was on heavy ground. His former trainer saddles Whiskey Lullaby here and her pedigree suggests she will make a better chaser than hurdler. Old Harry Rocks looks a bit high in the weights after going up 8lb for his victory over 2m5f here and it's difficult to know what to make of Portentoso, a winner at Orleans last month who appears to like heavy going.
Mahler's Promise (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Tracked leader, joined leader 5th, led after 4 out, pushed along when pressed 3 out, disputed lead 2 out and last, soon headed, kept on gamely run-in but always held by winner, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind El Borracho (11-4) at Worcester 2m hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Rocheston (FR) 14-1 (11-13) Chased leaders on outside, outpaced when mistake 3 out, well held from next, 4th of 6, 12l behind Jemima P (11-11) at Ffos Las 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in May.
Portentoso (GER) (11-0) 3rd of 13, 3l behind Planteur Davier (11-0) at Compiegne 2m 3f hvy in May.
Whiskey Lullaby (IRE) 13-8fav (11-0) Prominent, led after 4th, headed next, led 7th, headed 3 out, led again before 2 out, soon headed, held before last, no extra and lost 3rd towards, 4th of 13, 5 1/2l behind Tequila Blaze (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f mdn (4) gd in Apr.
Old Harry Rocks (IRE) 2-1fav (11-4) Chased leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 7, 12 3/4l behind Big 'n Better (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (4) gf in May.
