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Alan Magee

Alan Magee

Sir Gerhard makes all on hurdling debut

Sun 26th Dec 2021, 13:10

Sir Gerhard and Paul TownendSir Gerhard and Paul Townend
© Photo Healy Racing

Sir Gerhard got his hurdling career off to a successful start when justifying odds-on favouritism with a decisive victory in the Thorntons Recycling Maiden Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Paul Townend and Willie Mullins suffered an odds-on reverse just over half-an-hour earlier in the other maiden hurdle on the card with the well-touted State Man but the pair made no mistake here.

The Cheltenham Bumper winner made all in this two-mile event and the 2/9 favourite asserted from before the last to beat Highland Charge by eight lengths. Ash Tree Meadow kept on one paced a further half-a-length back in third.

Mullins said, “He’s a very good jumper and I’m happy to see him coming out and doing that.

“I’d like to climb the ladder if I could but he might just have to go into a Graded race next — maybe the Dublin Racing Festival or something like that but I think he’s up to it.”

Paddy Power and Betfair both cut Sir Gerhard into 9/2 (from 8/1) for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, while BoyleSports go 4/1 (from 8/1).

About Alan Magee
Alan has worked in the racing industry for well over 30 years including with the Sporting Life, Turform and Irish Racing Services. He took up his current role as Irish Racing Team Leader with the Press Association in 2013. He has a keen interest in most sports and plays golf.