Sir Gerhard too good for Leopardstown rivals as Willie Mullins and Paul Townend claim more Grade One glory

Following the top-class and hugely popular victories of Willie Mullins stablemates Galopin Des Champs and Chacun Pour Soi - plus the Henry De Bromhead-trained superstar Honeysuckle (1/5) in the Irish Champion Hurdle - all eyes were on 8/13 favourite Sir Gerhard in the final Grade One of the day, and Paul Townend's mount lived up to the hype despite not impressing everyone with his jumping.

In tight at a few hurdles down the back straight, he appeared to improve in that department the further they went and after dominating from the outset, the 2021 Champion Bumper winner came home six lengths to the good over Three Stripe Life (5/1), with Colonel Mustard another six back in third at 14/1.

The sponsors reacted by clipping Sir Gerhard to 7/2 (NRNB) from 4/1 for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, with Betfair 9/2 from 5/1 and Paddy Power also 9/2 (from 5/1) for the Festival opener. Sky Bet left the winner unchanged at 3/1 (NRNB) for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle over two and a half miles.

Mullins said: “I was disappointed how he jumped down the back, he galloped through two or three hurdles.

“I was giving out before the race that the second-last was taken out, but halfway down the back I said maybe it’s a good thing.

“He jumped the second-last well and jumped the last well and galloped the whole way to the line which was fantastic.

“He hung off the bend past the stands and then was all over the place going to the hurdle past the stand. Was he just idling in front, I don’t know, or was something annoying him. We’ll find out when Paul comes back in.

“He got very keen on Paul around the top bend and when he got keen he didn’t jump well. He was so efficient here at Christmas, he jumped like a handicapper so I was disappointed with his jumping.

“I’m not really worried about his jumping, I think he just had a blip there today.

“I think he could go either way, I’d have no trouble going to the Supreme Novices’ with him or to the Ballymore. We’ll see what is in either race and then make our minds up,” said Mullins.

“He settles well enough in a two-mile race and he has stamina for two and a half.”

Bookies saved as 40/1 shot springs bumper shock

There was a turn-up in the concluding Grade Two Coolmore N.H. Sires Santiago Irish EBF Mares I.N.H. Flat Race as the Stuart Crawford-trained Lily Du Berlais belied odds of 40/1 to edge a thrilling contest over Battling Bessie (33/1) and Liberty Dance (14/1), just a nose and a short-head splitting the three of them.

There was only half a length back to Ashroe Diamond in fourth, with the 5/4 favourite Pink In The Park only fifth for the all-conquering Willie and Patrick Mullins.

Crawford said: “I thought she was a good mare when I brought her to Perth and Brian Hughes got off her that day and said ‘that’s as good a horse as I’ve ridden for you’.

“He rang me this morning and said ‘don’t forget what I told you back then’. He said ‘tell Ben to ride her cold and be as cool as he likes, I don’t care how good the race is’.

“She was tough on the day. I was thinking to myself my brother had been getting plenty of instructions from all directions and I said ‘you’re not doing what you were told there, you are too cool’.

“It worked out and it was great. To get a winner for (owners) Simon (Munir) and Isaac (Souede) and Anthony (Bromley, racing manager) is great. They are big supporters of racing and big supporters of me.

“We’ll take it today and make plans after that. She’s an extremely exciting mare to be going jumping with and she got the job done there today, so we’ll enjoy that.”

Reflecting on the longshot's narrow success, Sky Bet's Head of Sports PR Michael Shinners said: "It's been a great day for punters with the majority of the most popular horses getting the job done, but some more favourable results for the bookmakers have ended the card, and particularly defeat for Pink In The Park who was in a lot of multiples with Galopin Des Champs, Chacun Pour Soi, Sir Gerhard and Honeysuckle."

Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield echoed those thoughts, saying: “Racing is a game of ups and downs and that’s been demonstrated so well at the Dublin Racing Festival.

"With only one winning favourite on Saturday, the books came out on top, but we knew today would determine our weekend given all the 'shorties'.

“But Sunday couldn’t have begun any worse with six jollies winning in a row, including in the handicaps and all of the big four short ones, before lady luck struck for the layers with Call Me Lyreen prevailing at 20/1.

“Lily Du Berlais’ photograph will also be taking pride of place on the wall at Power Tower after winning the lucky last at 40/1, with favourite Pink In The Park being furiously backed for bumper kings Willie and Patrick Mullins, and her victory has helped save us a significant seven-figure pay out today."

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