Rachael Blackmore and Sir Gerhard land Willie Mullins 11th Champion Bumper on glorious day for Irish

Sir Gerhard ridden by jockey Rachael Blackmore wins the Weatherbys Champion Bumper ahead of Kilcruit and Paul Townend (right) who came second during day two of the Cheltenham Festival

Nick Robson and Ashley Iveson

March 17 2021 01:51 PM

Willie Mullins won the Weatherbys Champion Bumper for the 11th time as Sir Gerhard held off stablemate Kilcruit to give Rachael Blackmore another winner.

Blackmore was landing her third Grade One of the week, having already won the Champion Hurdle on Honeysuckle and the Ballymore on Bob Olinger.

Mullins was keeping up his recent trend of winning the race from outside of his apparent first string - although Sir Gerhard was sent off at only 85-40, having scored twice already for Gordon Elliott before switching stables.

Kilcruit was backed into 10-11 favouritism on the back of a scintillating display at the Dublin Racing Festival - but when Blackmore kicked off the home bend, she stole an advantage she would not relinquish.

Tiger Roll ridden by Keith Donoghue on their way to winning the Glenfarclas Chase Cross Country Chase on day two of the Cheltenham Festival

Having only set what appeared a steady tempo, Sir Gerhard was soon in the clear as Paul Townend tried to close on Kilcruit.

As the line approached, Kilcruit was gaining - but they flashed past the post with Sir Gerhard still half-a-length to the good.

Mullins said: "I have to say well done to the Cullentra (Elliott) team. He came in great condition.

"The first night he came, we didn't have any of the feed he'd been eating at Cullentra, so we just gave him our usual feed - and he didn't miss an oat.

"He'll probably go for the Champion Bumper at Punchestown. We'll have a word with (owners) Cheveley Park, but that would look the obvious target.

"They are two good horses, and I'm delighted to have them. Looking at it, Kilcruit looks like a Ballymore horse and Sir Gerhard a Supreme type (next season)."

Put The Kettle On ridden by Aidan Coleman (right) on their way to winning the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase on day two of the Cheltenham Festival

Sir Gerhard showed a fine attitude, to go with his evident speed.

Mullins added: "He looks to be a natural - he has a huge stride. Rachael let him bowl along, and he was lugging out with her - he's still a bit green.

"He obviously has a lot of natural ability. He's a fine, big horse who will be made for jumping fences at some stage.

"We were fortunate enough to get him. When he came to us he was very fit, and I just wanted to get him settled in, and I was surprised how well he settled in.

"We didn't want to overdo things, because it's a lot of stress to change yards and change gallops. It was all about having the horse relaxed, and it was all about hoping he was fit enough - which he was, and he has the ability."

Earlier, outsider Heaven Help Us was a runaway winner of the Coral Cup.

Richard Condon on board Heaven Help Us celebrates with his trainer Paul Hennessy after winning the during the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle during day two of the Cheltenham Festival

Young jockey Richard Condon pulled off a perfect front-running ride, with the help of his 7lb claim, to dominate what is traditionally the most competitive of handicaps from start to finish.

Heaven Help Us, trained by Paul Hennessy, was another success for Ireland - clear almost from the outset, but not at a manic pace in such a big field, and well in control at the last when her nearest pursuer Blue Sari came down.

The 33-1 winner had nine lengths to spare at the line - followed home by Craigneiche, with another outsider Tea Clipper running well to be third, another two and a quarter lengths back.

Meanwhile, Monkfish maintained his unbeaten record over fences with a comprehensive success in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.

A narrow winner of the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at last year’s Festival, the Willie Mullins-trained chestnut was the 1-4 favourite to strike gold in the Cotswolds for a second time, having been faultless in three previous chase starts.

It was not entirely plain sailing for odds-on backers, with The Big Breakaway more than matching Monkfish in the jumping department for much of the three-mile contest, before Paul Townend’s mount displayed his superior class to move clear before the home turn.

Rachael Blackmore riding Bob Olinger after winning The Ballymore Novices' Hurdle during day two of the Cheltenham Festival. Photo credit: Alan Crowhurst/PA Wire.

The presence of the riderless Eklat De Rire, who unseated Rachael Blackmore earlier in the race, will have had Monkfish’s supporters sweating in the home straight, as would a mistake at the final fence.

But it ultimately made no difference to the result, with the giant seven-year-old galloping up the hill to score by six and a half lengths from Fiddlerontheroof.

Earlier, Rachael Blackmore’s dream Cheltenham Festival continued into the second day as Bob Olinger sprouted wings in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.

With the Champion Hurdle already in the bag through Honeysuckle and a top-class book of rides to come through the rest of the week, Blackmore is proving unstoppable.

Harry Cobden tried to dominate from the front at a steady tempo on Bravemansgame and in the early stages the Henry de Bromhead-trained Bob Olinger (6-4 favourite) was keen enough, pulling himself into second position.

As they went down the back straight Bear Ghylls attempted to inject some pace to the race and put pressure on the leader, as Blackmore sat in wait.

Paul Townend was scraping the paint on Gaillard Du Mesnil and did get a little short of room at the second-last, as Blackmore forced her way between Bravemansgame and Bear Ghylls.

But turning in there was only going to be one winner and it was a matter of ‘how far?’. The answer was seven and a half lengths back to Gaillard Du Mesnil.

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