PRESENTING Mahler teed herself up for a tilt at Grade 3 company this weekend when upsetting hot-favourite Retour En France in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase at Sligo.

Just as she had been on her Irish debut, when turned over by stablemate Airlie Beach over timber at Galway, Retour En France was sent off at odds-on and made her own running in the hands of Ruby Walsh.

After Water Sprite fell, Willie Mullins' French recruit appeared to have her two remaining opponents on the stretch approaching the last but found less than expected, whereas Presenting Mahler (11-2) responded to all of Danny Mullins' urgings and prevailed by a head.

Trainer John Ryan said: "She's a smasher and Danny was brilliant on her. She has a turn of foot and loves soft ground. She will probably run in the graded race (Kilbegnet Novice Chase) at Gowran on Saturday, and hopefully she will be a contender for the winter."

The winning jockey said: "It was always going to be tactical, and I was happy to follow Ruby, although I didn't want to be too far out of my ground. Thankfully she had a good jump at the last."

That kickstarted a treble for Ryan and Mullins, completed by Draycott Place in the Joe Henry Memorial Handicap Chase and Willow Grange in the Why Not Sponsor A Race At Sligo Races In 2017 Handicap Chase.

Draycott Place, the 13-8 favourite, challenged The Black Russian for the lead between the final couple of obstacles and stretched nicely clear to go in by 13 lengths from Sean Airgead.

Ryan said: "He's had a lot of trouble with his palate. He'd a job done at Anglesey Lodge, and fair play to all the team there as it's made a big difference. He's probably one of the best horses that I've trained. This was a weak enough contest, and he'd hate that ground. He can handle soft ground but this is a different thing altogether."

Willow Grange was a long-standing maiden but broke through in no uncertain terms as the 6-5 favourite, hammering Gibbstown by 15 lengths.

BURKE DOUBLE

Sizing Coal's victory in the Kilcawley Construction Chase was the highlight of a double for Jonathan Burke.

Burke was happy to let Another Rebel have an uncontested lead but was never too far away on the Jim Dreaper-trained 9-10 favourite, who made his move to jump the last in a share of the lead. With stamina his forte, last year's Irish National third pulled clear on the run-in and crossed the line with six and a half lengths in hand.

Dreaper said: "The inclement weather has helped us and the horses are a bit further forward than in previous years. This horse was out for 10 weeks and has been back in 10 weeks, and it's one thing I remember my father saying that roughly speaking it takes that long to get one ready.

"He could possibly go for the Cork National, and we'll be looking at races over three miles."

Vinnie Luck stamped his authority under Burke on the Frank O'Beirne Memorial Beginners Chase. Mick Winters' lightly-raced seven-year-old came down on the Flat in a maiden hurdle at Downpatrick last week, but that has clearly left no lasting scars because the 4-7 favourite jumped soundly to see off Antiphony by four and a half lengths.

Winters said: "He's a horse that needs a big galloping track as he's about 17 hands. Johnny said he ran to the line, which is a good thing, and maybe he could go to the Cheltenham meeting in November."

Riviera Sun is really well treated over fences compared to his hurdles figure and he took full advantage in the Sligo Park Hotel Novice Handicap Chase. The 11-4 chance made hard work of reeling in the front-running Galboystown Lady but mastered her shortly after jumping the last and stayed on for a three -length verdict.

Grange Hall didn't show much in two starts over fences a year ago but returned a different mare to land the Sligo Races Supporters Club Beginners Chase at odds of 28-1.