'He has everything' - stamina no issue as Sir Gerhard powers to Ballymore win

Wednesday: Ballymore Novices' Hurdle

Paul Townend felt the Ballymore was Sir Gerhard's race to lose and Willie Mullins believed the Cheveley Park star was "made for the race". Their confidence proved emphatically well placed.

Not even driving rain and two going changes before racing – the day's action began on soft ground – was enough to make this too stern a test for Sir Gerhard, who maintained his perfect record at the meeting having landed the Champion Bumper last season.

A muddling pace ensured it was not entirely plain sailing for Townend's mount, who raced freely on his first try over 2m5f, but the longer the race went on, the more likely it looked he would win.

Sir Gerhard produced an exquisitely clean jump at the third last that brought a big roar from the crowd – a sound that reverberated around the grandstand as racegoers seized every vantage point possible that provided cover from the rain.

A second roar came as Sir Gerhard ranged upsides second favourite Journey With Me after jumping the second last and one key question remained – will he get up the hill? Any doubts were soon answered.

There were three and a half lengths between the winner and staying-on second Three Stripe Life at the line, with Sir Gerhard's stablemate Whatdeawant nine lengths back in third. Journey With Me crashed out at the last when in contention for a place but was led away unscathed, with the Nicky Henderson-trained I Am Maximus faring best of the British in fourth.

Mullins celebrated his 80th Cheltenham Festival success and extended his record as the most successful trainer in the race to five, with Sir Gerhard following victories for Fiveforthree (2008), Mikael D'Haguenet (2009), Faugheen (2014) and Yorkhill (2016).

He said: "I was absolutely delighted with him and we thought this might suit him. He was a little freer than I thought he would be, but there was probably very little pace in the race early on. He was really lit up down the back straight but Paul got him jumping at his hurdles and he won as he liked.

"He jumped like a professional today and he was just fantastic. He has plenty of stamina and he also has speed – he has everything."

Ballymore Novices' Hurdle: full result and race replay

Sir Gerhard missed the Supreme in favour of this race and Townend admitted to giving that decision a quick thought on the way around during the five minutes and 20 seconds it took for the odds-on favourite to come home in front. The end result proved it was the right call.

Townend, winning this race for the first time, said: "He showed his class to be as keen as he was and to keep going on his first go at this trip.

"I was afraid going around that we were in the wrong race, but he knows what he's at and showed his true class. It's the best he's jumped on the course and he has a brilliant jump in him.

"It's a relief to get one on the board after yesterday. I wasn't great company last night!"

Sir Gerhard was quoted at 5-1 for next year's Arkle and shortened to 8-1 (from 14) for the 2023 Champion Hurdle with Betfair Sportsbook. Asked which route he may take, Mullins took a second’s pause before delivering a verdict of sorts.

Mullins said: "I really don't know. You'd think he has all the makings of a chaser but could he be a Champion Hurdle horse? He could be."

Owners Cheveley Park Stud boasted a remarkable 50 per cent strike-rate (8-16) at the meeting following Sir Gerhard's victory and Richard Thompson, whose father David prompted greater involvement in the jumps sphere prior to his death in late 2020, said he would be led by what Mullins thought as to next season's grand plans.

A soaked but smiling Thompson said: "It's great to have all the options. My instinct will be to go with what Willie suggests, I'm delighted to go with either."

On the relentless rain, he added: "Who cares about the rain when you've won a race like that? It was fantastic."

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