Sir Gino's Injury Overshadows Cheltenham Trials Day
Britain's National Hunt racing community was left anxiously awaiting news on Saturday afternoon as Sir Gino, the sport's most exciting prospect and clear favourite for the Champion Hurdle in March, was pulled up with a suspected pelvic injury during the International Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Devastating Setback for Festival Favourite
The Nicky Henderson-trained star, who had remained unbeaten through seven starts including a brilliant novice chase victory at Kempton in December 2024, was held up last of the four runners before jockey Nico de Boinville pulled him up shortly after jumping the third-last flight. The atmosphere at Prestbury Park immediately shifted from anticipation to concern as the gravity of the situation became apparent.
"They were able to put him into the ambulance," Henderson confirmed afterwards. "It's his right-hind, and it appears to be high up, so there's no lower limb fracture. It would appear to be a pelvic injury at the moment."
The trainer revealed that Sir Gino had been transported directly to Three Counties veterinary hospital in Tewkesbury for assessment and scanning, adding: "Pelvic injuries can be little or big, so we've just got to keep everything crossed. We won't know anymore tonight. They need a chance to assess him so it will be late on, I expect."
Subdued Victory for The New Lion
Amid the palpable tension, The New Lion stayed on strongly up the famous Cheltenham hill to secure victory in the Grade Two contest, beating Nemean Lion by a length and a half. However, the winner's enclosure remained unusually quiet as attention remained fixed on Sir Gino's condition.
Trainer Dan Skelton, whose charge was cut to around 5-2 for the Champion Hurdle following the win, expressed his concern for the injured star: "I'm a big fan of this sport, and Sir Gino could be the best horse in training, and we just didn't need that. The team at Seven Barrows have been through hell and back to get him back on track and hopefully he is okay."
Skelton praised jockey Harry Skelton's tactical ride, noting: "We needed to get a clear round after Newcastle and Harry did exactly what I wanted him to do and held him into the bottom of all the jumps. The unanswered question with this horse is the speed angle and I thought he showed a lot of speed at Newcastle despite us ending up on the floor."
Spillane's Tower Returns to Form
Earlier on the card, Spillane's Tower delivered a significant performance to win the Grade Two Cotswold Chase, marking trainer Jimmy Mangan's first British winner since Monty's Pass triumphed in the 2003 Grand National.
Ridden by Jack Kennedy for the first time since their memorable John Durkan Memorial Chase performance in 2024, the eight-year-old oozed confidence throughout before quickening past L'Homme Presse on the run up the hill. This impressive return to form saw his Gold Cup odds slashed from 50-1 to 10-1 with Paddy Power.
"I would have gone back to Ireland a disappointed man if he had put up a poor show today," Mangan admitted. "I suppose you do have to start dreaming of the Gold Cup and he's in that grade now."
Delayed Finish in Near-Darkness
The Trials Day card concluded in challenging conditions after the final race was delayed by approximately thirty minutes following the discovery of a hole in the turf. This necessitated a course inspection and reconfiguration, with the eventual result - a narrow victory for Kripticjim over Taurus Bay in Harry Redknapp's colours - only confirmed after prolonged examination of a photo-finish image taken in fading light.
Nicky Henderson had withdrawn the likely favourite, Act Of Innocence, from this concluding contest, adding to what proved to be a difficult afternoon for the Seven Barrows stable.
As the racing world awaits further medical updates on Sir Gino, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of even the most talented equine athletes and the emotional investment shared by connections, jockeys, and fans across the National Hunt community.
