Sir Gino poised for super sub role at Newcastle's Fighting Fifth run
Sir Gino ridden by Nico de Boinville on their way to winning the Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle
Nicky Henderson has confirmed Sir Gino will fill the role of “supersub” in the BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle.
The unbeaten four-year-old, who was one of the stars of the juvenile hurdling division last term, was due to go novice chasing this season.
However, he will remain over timber for now as stablemate Constitution Hill recovers from the setback that emerged after the pair worked together at Newbury on Tuesday, with Sir Gino coming out on top in that spin.
Bleak conditions in Lambourn curtailed a scheduled gallop for Sir Gino on Sunday, but Henderson intends to work his charge on Monday ahead of his scheduled visit to Gosforth Park.
Henderson said: “It is the plan to go to Newcastle. He was going to do a bit of work this morning following on from Newbury, but I’m going to have to do it tomorrow as the weather was so foul this morning, you simply couldn’t do it in the wind on the Downs here.
“God willing, nothing goes wrong tomorrow – and we know what horses can do. Unless that is an absolute disaster, he’s going to Newcastle. We’re in a very lucky position to have a supersub and he’s a very good horse.”
It is easy to see why Sir Gino is the evens favourite for the Fighting Fifth with race sponsors BetMGM judged on his exploits over timber last season, when he dispatched recent Greatwood winner Burdett Road at Cheltenham in January and scooped Grade One honours at Aintree in the spring.
Henderson has not ruled out returning to plan A for the season and tackling the larger obstacles with Sir Gino if Constitution Hill was to return at the top of his game.
But for now, the exciting youngster will have the chance to give Henderson a record-extending ninth victory in the Newcastle Grade One.
“He is such a fantastic jumper of a fence, but that is for another day,” continued Henderson.
“If Constitution Hill comes back and is ready for Christmas, then what am I doing? Then I might have a problem.
“There’s nothing to say Sir Gino still can’t switch (later on) and by gum, he is good over a fence, he is serious. But while I have this race here (the Fighting Fifth), I’ve got to use it.”
On Constitution Hill, Henderson added: “The vets are in tomorrow morning to monitor Constitution Hill’s progress and we hope it is progress, we will see. There will be a bulletin tomorrow to update. Let’s see how he is in the morning.”
