The Cheltenham International Hurdle, typically a showcase for emerging National Hunt talent, was overshadowed by concern for one of the sport's brightest prospects. Sir Gino, the unbeaten favourite for March's Champion Hurdle, was pulled up with a suspected pelvic injury, casting a pall over the afternoon's racing.
A Promising Career Interrupted
Sir Gino entered Saturday's Grade Two contest with an impeccable record of seven consecutive victories, including a standout novice chase win at Kempton in December 2024. The Nicky Henderson-trained gelding was widely regarded as the most exciting prospect in British jump racing and the clear ante-post favourite for the Champion Hurdle.
Ridden by jockey Nico de Boinville, Sir Gino was held up at the rear of the four-runner field as Nemean Lion set the early pace. The drama unfolded shortly after the third-last flight, when de Boinville immediately pulled up the horse, recognising something was amiss.
Trainer's Anxious Wait for Diagnosis
"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 explained that Sir Gino was transported directly to Three Counties veterinary hospital in Tewkesbury without unloading at Cheltenham. "Everybody is fighting," Henderson added. "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 concern for Sir Gino, The New Lion secured victory in the International Hurdle, staying on strongly up the famous Cheltenham hill to beat Nemean Lion by a length and a half. However, the winner's enclosure atmosphere was muted as racing fans awaited news about the injured favourite.
Trainer Dan Skelton, whose horse was cut to around 5-2 for the Champion Hurdle following the win, expressed sympathy for his rival. "I'm a big fan of this sport," Skelton said, "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."
Technical Triumph Amid Emotional Turmoil
Skelton praised jockey Harry Skelton's tactical ride on The New Lion, particularly after the horse's previous fall in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle. "Harry did exactly what I wanted him to do and held him into the bottom of all the jumps," the trainer explained.
"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. He showed a lot of speed there as well from turning in to the last, and then from the last to the line."
Cotswold Chase Provides Racing Relief
Earlier on the card, Spillane's Tower delivered an impressive performance to win the Grade Two Cotswold Chase, providing some positive racing narrative on an otherwise worrying afternoon. Ridden by Jack Kennedy for the first time since their memorable John Durkan Memorial Chase performance in 2024, the eight-year-old quickened past L'Homme Presse on the run up the hill.
Trainer Jimmy Mangan, celebrating his first British winner since Monty's Pass triumphed in the 2003 Grand National, acknowledged the significance of the victory. "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." Bookmakers responded by slashing Spillane's Tower's Gold Cup odds from 50-1 to 10-1, though the Cheltenham showpiece remains without a clear favourite.
Broader Implications for National Hunt Racing
The incident raises broader questions about the physical demands of top-level jump racing and the emotional investment of connections and fans in these equine athletes. Sir Gino's injury not only affects his own Champion Hurdle prospects but potentially reshapes the entire ante-post market for Cheltenham's flagship hurdling event.
As the National Hunt community awaits further medical updates, the afternoon served as a stark reminder of the fine margins between triumph and tragedy in this most demanding of sports. The hope throughout the racing world is for positive news about one of jump racing's most exciting talents.
