After hundreds of racegoers feared the worst at Cheltenham on Saturday, the coach says his celebrity hurdler may make a full restoration
Sir Gino faces “an extended journey” again from the double fracture to his pelvis sustained at Cheltenham on Saturday – however has “each probability” of constructing a great restoration.
The Nicky Henderson-trained star suffered a primary profession defeat when pulled up abruptly by Nico de Boinville after the third-last flight of the Unibet Hurdle, for which he began the 2-5 favorite.
Henderson confirmed on Saturday night time that the Joe and Marie Donnelly-owned six-year-old, who was taken from the racecourse to the Three Counties Equine Hospital in Tewkesbury, had suffered a pelvic fracture.And on Sunday the Seven Barrows coach reported Sir Gino, the 5-4 favorite for Cheltenham’s Champion Hurdle firstly of buying and selling on Saturday, to be “brilliant” after “a fairly snug” night time.
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“I’ve spoken with the vets and so they’re joyful he had a fairly snug night time,” stated Henderson. George Daly, my assistant, has been to see him this morning and despatched me {a photograph} of him. They’ll see the place the fractures are – there are two fracture traces – and they’re doing extra scans and X-rays in the present day.“He seems brilliant, the poor boy, however he spent most of final 12 months in hospital, so no less than he is aware of what one seems like.”
Henderson dominated Sir Gino out of the rest of the 2025-26 marketing campaign however hasn’t given up hope the gelding, who missed most of final season after creating a ligament an infection earlier than making a superb comeback within the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park on Boxing Day, may make a return to the monitor.
Sir Gino may make a full restoration(Picture: PA)
“It is nothing to do with what occurred final 12 months – it is truly within the reverse hind leg and it’s clearly excessive up,” he added. “In easy phrases, he has a fractured pelvis – they don’t seem to be unusual and so they can mend.“It may be an extended journey, however there’s each probability he may make a great restoration. He gained’t race once more this season. If he can come again he’ll and, if he can’t, he’ll be taken care of ceaselessly.“It is going to be months and months earlier than we all know the place we’re or have any prognosis. No person deserves it, however he actually doesn’t, and nor does Joe – and for [groom] Karolina [Wernerova], who takes care of him, it was a horrible night time. Empty stables will not be a lot enjoyable.”
The seven-time winner will miss the Cheltenham Pageant for a 3rd 12 months, having been withdrawn from the 2024 assembly because of the poor well being of Henderson’s string.
