Cheltenham latest: Sir Gerhard delivers for Mullins in Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle

Day two of the 2022 Cheltenham Festival has got underway, with seven races on the card:

Winner: Sir Gerhard (Willie Mullins) - 8/11 favourite

Sir Gerhard powered through the soft ground to justify favouritism in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The 8-11 favourite, trained by Willie Mullins, followed up his Grade One success over two miles at Leopardstown with another – handling the step up to two miles and five furlongs with aplomb under Paul Townend.

Ahead of racing, conditions changed to soft after heavy rain fell on watered ground, making conditions gruelling, and the early pace did not help the keen Stage Star, who emptied quickly after the third-last.

SIR GERHARD!