Sir Gerhard A Doubt For The Cheltenham Festival After Injury Setback

Leading talent for Cheveley Park Stud, Sir Gerhard has picked up an injury setback and will now miss his Christmas engagements and is a big doubt for the Cheltenham festival.

Sir Gerhard has been a superstar over the last two years, although throwing out an odd bad performance, for the majority of his career he has been very taking.

The seven year old son of Jeremy was a smart bumper horse last term, landing his first three events in taking style including winning the Champion Bumper, he rounded off last season with a tame third at this festival.

Sent hurdling this term the £400,000 purchase won a 18 runner maiden at Leopardstown on Boxing Day and then next time out over the same course and distance landed the Grade One Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival.

He was last seen stepping up to 2m5f for the first time in his career but having won over three miles comfortably in his point to point he showed he got the trip and went on to land the Grade One Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival.

Dropping back to two miles for his last run of the season in the Group One Champion Novice Hurdle he blew out finishing a well beat third behind Mighty Potter.

Set to be sent chasing this season, Mullins has commented on a number of occasions that he has not been happy with the horses work at home and now it has been revealed he has picked up an injury setback.

Set to run during the Christmas period he will not be entered at Leopardstown and is also now a doubt for the Cheltenham festival, with one of the Arkle and Turners Novices' Chase his presumed targets.

Richard Thompson, director for owners Cheveley Park Stud said:“Sir Gerhard’s got an injury, unfortunately. He’s going to be out for a few weeks.

“That (chasing) is still the idea, but he won’t run over the Christmas period.

“Whether he’s back for Cheltenham, who knows? It’s disappointing.”