Sir Gino, who had been the odds-on favourite for the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham next month since his brilliant chasing debut at Kempton’s Christmas meeting, has been ruled out for the remainder of the National Hunt season with an infection following a minor leg injury sustained during a routine piece of exercise last week.
The news on Monday means that Sir Gino will be denied a run as favourite for a festival Grade One for the second year running, as he was ruled out of the Triumph Hurdle last year a day before the race as Henderson’s string struggled with the effects of a virus at the worst possible moment of the campaign.
Nicky Henderson dealt Cheltenham blow as Sir Gino ruled out for season Odds-on favourite for Arkle Trophy will miss rest of National Hunt season following a minor leg injury.
He missed an intended prep run for Cheltenham in the Game Spirit Chase on Saturday, however, and his price for the Arkle started to drift ominously on the Betfair betting exchange on Monday morning before a statement from Henderson’s stable confirmed the news that his ante-post backers had been dreading.
Next in the betting is L’Eau Du Sud (5-1), the comfortable winner of the Grade Two Kingmaker Chase at Warwick on Saturday, while Mistergif, the winner of his only start over fences to date at Fairyhouse in January in a notably quick time for a chasing debutant, is a 10-1 chance.
