It was the statement from Nicky Henderson that no racing fan wanted to read: “We have very sadly lost the battle to overcome Sir Gino’s ailment, and he has had to be put to sleep at the veterinary hospital this morning.”
Hopes had been high that the emerging superstar would make a full recovery following an injury sustained in the Unibet Hurdle back in January at Cheltenham. However, while his fractured pelvis was healing well, the six-year-old succumbed to a recurring infection, which he had so bravely fought off last year.
The death of any horse is a tragedy, but the loss of one so talented must be particularly painful for the Nicky Henderson team and owners Joe and Marie Donnelly. While gone way before his time, Sir Gino lit up the sport with a series of wonderful performances during his short but spectacular career.
Exploding onto the Scene in 2023/24
| Date | Race | Course | Position | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27/12/2023 | Juvenile Hurdle | Kempton | 1st | 4/9F |
| 27/1/2024 | Finesse (Triumph Trial) Juvenile Hurdle | Cheltenham | 1st | 5/4 |
| 11/4/2024 | Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle | Aintree | 1st | 11/10F |
Beginning life at the French yard of Carlos and Yann Lerner, Sir Gino made his debut in a hot Listed Hurdle at Auteuil. Breaking his duck at the first attempt, the son of It’s Gino came home just under two lengths clear of Salvator Mundi – a horse who would also go on to race in the colours of the Donnellys and won the Grade 1 Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree in 2025.
Snapped up by the Donnellys on the back of that effort, Sir Gino relocated to Seven Barrows ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. In the space of just three starts, he progressed from Class 2 company to the Grade 1 summit of the juvenile division. He was 14 lengths too good for his rivals on his British debut at Kempton, and he made similarly short work of the opposition when stepping into Grade 2 for the JCB Triumph Trial. Burdett Road started favourite that day and went on to finish second in the 2025 Champion Hurdle but couldn’t get within 10 lengths of Sir Gino.
Sir Gino was installed as the red-hot favourite for the Triumph Hurdle on the back of that effort, only to skip the festival due to the cloud hanging over the Henderson yard at the time. Sir Gino was fit and firing for the second springtime festival, as he lined up in the Grade 1 Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree. Fresh from finishing second to Majborough in the Triumph Hurdle by a length and a half, the Willie Mullins mare Kargese headed the opposition. Try as she might, the horse who would go on to win the 2025 County Hurdle and 2026 Arkle Chase couldn’t live with Sir Gino, with the mount of Nico de Boinville coming home three and a quarter lengths clear on his Grade 1 debut.
Super Sub Delivers at Newcastle
Scheduled to set out over fences in the 2024/25 campaign, Sir Gino was called into action as a late replacement for Constitution Hill ahead of the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle. Interestingly, Constitution Hill was much maligned in the media for finishing behind Sir Gino in a racecourse gallop. In hindsight, that possibly wasn’t such a bad effort after all. Making his first start in open Grade 1 company, Sir Gino continued his ascent in style. With main market rival Mystical Power performing below expectations, the four-year-old cruised away from the competition to score by eight lengths.
Ballyburn Blown Away in Sole Chase Start
Long touted as a chaser in the making, Sir Gino was finally handed his chance over fences in the 2024 edition of the Grade 2 Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase at Kempton. Lying in wait among the opposition was one of the most highly touted runners from the yard of Willie Mullins. Successful in four of five starts over hurdles, including a 13-length romp in the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle, Ballyburn had begun his chase career with another 13-length success at Punchestown. A formidable opponent on paper, but not on the day. Quickening around the home turn, Sir Gino left a toiling Ballyburn trailing in his wake by more than seven lengths.
For the second year in a row, Sir Gino topped a Cheltenham Festival market at the turn of the year, with his Kempton success seeing his odds shorten to Even Money for the Arkle Chase. And for the second year in a row, he didn’t make it to Prestbury Park. A ligament infection resulting from a small wound saw the gelding miss the remainder of the 2024/25 campaign and led to an extensive stay in the equine hospital.
A Tragic Conclusion
Given the severity of his illness, there was some doubt as to whether Sir Gino would ever return to the track. But return he did, and in typically sizzling style. Overcoming an absence of 364 days and a field that included the 2025 Champion Hurdle winner, Golden Ace, Sir Gino sauntered to a six-length victory in the 2025 Christmas Hurdle.
That effortless display propelled the unbeaten star to the head of the Champion Hurdle market, only for fate to once again cruelly intervene. Warming up for the Cheltenham Festival in the Unibet Hurdle in January, Sir Gino pulled up suddenly after the third last, having fractured his pelvis during the race. Sadly, despite the positive prognosis for his fracture, the invasive infection returned, and Sir Gino could not be saved.
Considering the talent which has emerged from Seven Barrows over the years, Henderson paid the ultimate tribute, stating:
“We would have to say that he was just at least as good as any of all the amazing horses we have been lucky enough to have trained. Unforgettable in every way.”