Sir Gino is a high‑class National Hunt racehorse who has recently become a big talking point because of a worrying injury scare at Cheltenham, on top of an already star‑studded record over hurdles.

Who is Sir Gino?

  • Sir Gino is a six‑year‑old bay gelding (foaled 10 April 2020) bred in France, by It’s Gino (GER) out of Anzi Star (FR).
  • He is trained by leading jumps trainer Nicky Henderson and owned by Mrs J Donnelly, a well‑known National Hunt owner.
  • He runs in top‑level hurdle races (Grade 1 and Grade 2 company) and has been regarded as one of the most exciting hurdlers of his generation in Britain.

Race record and achievements

  • Sir Gino has won seven of his eight completed starts, an outstanding strike‑rate at graded level.
  • His wins include major two‑mile hurdle contests at tracks like Cheltenham, Aintree, Kempton and Newcastle, all in high‑class company.
  • He has posted official ratings in the 150s–160s region, marking him out as a genuine top‑class hurdler and a major festival contender when sound.
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Year Notable win Course & trip Notes
2023 2m hurdle success Kempton, 2m Emerges as a serious novice hurdler.
2024 Multiple graded wins Newcastle, Aintree, Kempton Steps into top level with several impressive victories.
2025 Christmas Hurdle Kempton, 2m Returns from a serious leg infection and beats Champion Hurdle winner Golden Ace.

Past health issues

  • Before his latest setback, Sir Gino spent around a year off the track due to a nasty leg infection that at one stage threatened his racing career.
  • His comeback win in the Christmas Hurdle showed his engine was still very much intact, restoring his status as a leading Champion Hurdle prospect.

Latest news: Cheltenham injury scare

  • On Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham, in the Grade Two Unibet Hurdle, Sir Gino was pulled up mid‑race after appearing to suffer an injury following a hurdle late in the race.
  • He was quickly dismounted, attended to on course by the veterinary team and was able to walk onto the horse ambulance, which is generally a reassuring sign in serious‑looking incidents.
  • Nicky Henderson has indicated the problem appears to be in his right hind, high up, and that it likely involves a pelvic injury rather than fractures to the lower limb.
  • Sir Gino was transported to a specialist equine hospital (Three Counties veterinary clinic) for scans and full assessment, with connections stressing that “everyone is doing their best” and that he is a “truly exceptional” horse.

Season outlook and context

  • As of late January 2026, Sir Gino was a major ante‑post player for top two‑mile hurdle prizes, including at the Cheltenham Festival, given his profile and recent Christmas Hurdle victory.
  • The suspected pelvic issue now throws his immediate campaign into doubt; such injuries can range from relatively manageable to season‑ending, depending on scan results and stability.
  • Connections and fans are essentially in a waiting phase while veterinary assessments determine whether he can race again this season and, crucially, how his long‑term prognosis looks.

Forum and fan discussion angle

  • Racing forums and social channels are focusing on three main themes: concern for the horse’s welfare, what this means for the Champion Hurdle picture, and broader debates about the risks top jumpers face.
  • Some commentators are linking his earlier serious leg infection with the new suspected pelvic issue, asking whether cumulative physical stress plays a role in the careers of elite hurdlers.
  • Others are emphasizing how quickly on‑course vets acted and how being able to walk onto the ambulance suggests at least some cause for cautious optimism compared with catastrophic breakdowns.

TL;DR: Sir Gino is a top‑class six‑year‑old hurdler trained by Nicky Henderson, with seven wins from eight runs and major graded victories, but he has just suffered a suspected pelvic injury after being pulled up in the Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham, and his short‑term future now depends on specialist veterinary scans.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.