Cheltenham tips: Ruby Walsh knights Sir Gerhard as his Supreme Novices’ Hurdle best bet

Ruby likes the price of last year's Champion Bumper hero for the Festival opener on Tuesday, March 15.

*Odds quoted on the widget are Future Racing / Antepost prices which means that if your selection does not run in the race for whatever reason – you will lose your stake under traditional Antepost rules

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The From The Horse’s Mouth team ran the rule over the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on this week’s show, and Paddy’s resident jockey-turned-pundit Ruby Walsh believes the price for last year’s Champion Bumper winner Sir Gerhard is too good to ignore.

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Ruby Walsh:

“It’s purely on prices, and it might be a null-and-void bet in two weeks’ time if things don’t go to plan at the Dublin Racing Festival, but I would say Sir Gerhard’s price is too big.

“I had the privilege of schooling Sir Gerhard one morning and he’s a wonderful jumper. He’s also very fast. He was very impressive in his maiden hurdle at Leopardstown, although I didn’t like the way he hung left after jumping the last.

“He’s drifted in the market because of stablemate’s Dysart Dynamo’s impressive win at Punchestown 10 days ago. Perhaps and some people are thinking he could run in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle instead, but the Dublin Racing Racing Festival will tell us a lot.

“Sir Gerhard showed an incredible turn of foot two thirds of the way down the hill at Cheltenham last year in the Champion Bumper. He opened up and left them standing still. People think the others let him get away, but he opened up in a matter of strides and put decent horses to the sword before nearly running out of steam close to the line. He’s not short of speed!

“Dysart Dynamo’s front-running style could be made for the Supreme, but it depends on the opposition as there’s more than one way of winning any race. It could also suit Constitution Hill, Jonbon and Sir Gerhard. Dysart Dynamo could also be entered in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, so it’ll be interesting to see where he goes.

“He’s achieved more on the track than Sir Gerhard as he’s had more runs but we aren’t comparing like for like just yet – ask me after my selection runs at the Dublin Racing Festival!

Sir Gerhard Rachael Blackmore Kilcruit Paul Townend

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“I wouldn’t be backing Jonbon until he’s walking out onto the track because of the hustle and bustle of 70,000 people at Cheltenham. The place is going to be like a rock concert!

“I don’t know where Three Stripe Life is going to run but he was unlucky at Christmas. He made a mistake at the second last hurdle and got caught in a pocket. He’s a big price for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, but if you’ve got three or four fancies in a race then chances are two are going to blow out to leave the door open for something else to nab third. Mighty Potter’s a good stayer who’s also a fair price. Something will get among the big four and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was either of Gordon Elliott’s horses.”

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at the time of publication but subject to change

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