Sir Gerhard brought up a landmark 80th success at the Cheltenham Festival for trainer Willie Mullins as he landed the Grade 1 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, becoming the fourth Irish point-to-point graduate to win of the week.
The seven-year-old scored by three and a half lengths from Three Stripe Life, with Whatdeawant another nine lengths back in third.
It was a second Festival success for Sir Gerhard as he followed in the footsteps for the similarly Cheveley Park Stud-owned Envoi Allen by winning the Ballymore 12 months after claiming the Grade 1 Champion Bumper on the same card.
For Sir Gerhard, he had started his career by winning a four-year-old maiden at Boulta for Ellmarie Holden, who had also started out Tuesday’s Supreme runner-up Jonbon.
Winning trainer Willie Mullins said: “I was absolutely delighted with the horse. He was a little freer than I thought he would be, but there was probably very little pace and he was really lit underneath Paul [Townend] halfway down the back, but anyway, Paul kept enough in reserve and won as he liked.
“Yes, his jumping the second time [at Leopardstown on 6 February] concerned me a bit, but the first time out he was good and he was again today.
“Obviously you would think he’d be a chaser [in the future], So, he's left us in the dilemma next year whether to go novice chasing or maybe go back to the Champion Hurdle. That’s where we are.
"It was a nice way to do it. I think Richard got the full pleasure out of it to be standing out on the wet lawn with the rain teeming down with his family. What better way to celebrate a Cheltenham winner.”
SIR GERHARD! 🏆@WillieMullinsNH continues what he started in the last yesterday to take the @Ballymore Novices Hurdle 👏 pic.twitter.com/sywswq4Z60
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 16, 2022
Successful jockey Paul Townend said: “It was a proper performance. He pulled hard but he still kept going which is the sign of a good horse. If Willie was happy he was going to get the trip, I was happy he was going to get it.
“I think he showed his class to be as keen as he was and to stay going. I was afraid going round that we were in the wrong race, but Willie knows where he’s at and he showed his true ability to stay going.
“That was the best he’s ever jumped on the course, he has a brilliant jump in him.”
