There is a specific, heavy silence that descends on Cheltenham when a superstar falters. It’s a silence that drowns out the cheers of the winning enclosure and the frantic scribbling of the bookies. Today, on Festival Trials Day, that silence belonged to Sir Gino.
It was a day defined by the “shenanigans” of tactical warfare, a shocking injury to a champion, and a significant shift in the power dynamics of the National Hunt season.
The Seven Barrows Stall: Sir Gino’s Heartbreak
The script for the Grade 2 Unibet Hurdle was simple: Sir Gino, the horse Nicky Henderson famously calls his “Ferrari,” was to cruise to victory in those iconic Mrs. J. Donnelly yellow and black silks.
But racing is rarely simple.
The four-runner field engaged in what can only be described as a tactical farce. They “hacked” around the course at a crawl—Dan Skelton later noted they were barely touching 24mph. It was a game of cat and mouse that left the crowd restless and the horses unextended.
Then came the moment that changed the season. Turning for home at the top of the hill, Sir Gino landed awkwardly after the third-last. Nico de Boinville, a man who knows the heartbeat of his horses better than most, didn’t hesitate. He pulled the 2/5 favorite up immediately.
“It appears to be a pelvic injury. He was able to walk into the ambulance, which is a blessing, but he’s gone straight to the Three Counties Equine Hospital for scans. We just have to keep everything crossed.” — Nicky Henderson
While the Seven Barrows team faces an anxious wait, the racing world is sending nothing but warmth to a horse that has already overcome so much, including a life-threatening infection just a year ago.
The New King of the Jungle?
In the vacuum left by Sir Gino, The New Lion (9/4) showed the grit of a true Champion Hurdle contender. Under a patient Harry Skelton, he mastered Nemean Lion by a length and a half.
It was a “workmanlike” performance, hindered by the slow pace, but his speed after the last flight was undeniable. With Sir Gino’s participation in March now in serious doubt, the markets reacted instantly, slashing The New Lion to a general 5/2 favorite for the Champion Hurdle.
Doncaster: Soft Ground and Stable Success
While the mood was somber in the Cotswolds, the action at Doncaster was relentless. The ground was testing, and the winners had to dig deep.
Sky Bet Chase
Dartmoor Pirate
Rex Dingle / A. Honeyball
A tactical masterclass. Dingle sat off the pace and sliced through the field to win by nearly 4 lengths.
Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle
Feet Of A Dancer
Sean O’Keeffe / P. Fahey
The 7/4 favorite lived up to her billing, outstaying the game Dream On Baby in a finish that required serious stamina.
Handicap Chase (15:13)
Mighty Bandit
James Bowen / W. Greatrex
Convincing. He handled the soft ground better than any and looks like a horse with a huge future in the spring.
The Skelton Double: Dan Skelton capped a bittersweet day by landing the bumper with Diamond Street (5/2f), following up his Cheltenham success. It’s clear the Skelton yard is firing on all cylinders as we approach the business end of the season.
The Verdict: A Day for Perspective
Today was a reminder that in this game, the “shenanigans” of a race can be forgotten in a heartbeat when the welfare of a horse is at stake. The stable silks of Seven Barrows may be heading home with a heavy heart tonight, but the resilience of the racing community is unparalleled.
The Road to Cheltenham has taken a sharp, unexpected turn. The Ferrari is in the garage, and the Lion is roaring.
Silks and Shenanigans 