'Sore' Arkle favourite Sir Gino misses Game Spirit run

Nicky Henderson’s Sir Gino will not run in Saturday’s William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Game Spirit Chase at Newbury.

The five-year-old has been ruled out of the Grade Two contest due to a minor injury that has left him sore and unable to run.

Henderson is now searching for alternative contests to get the gelding onto the racecourse ahead of his Cheltenham Festival target of the Arkle.

The trainer said via X: “We have some news to share on Sir Gino. Regrettably Sir Gino will be unable to run at Newbury tomorrow as he has sustained a small wound to the inside of his near hind leg which is sore, it must have occurred during routine exercise yesterday and although he is less sore this morning than last night, I am afraid it will not be completely cleared by Saturday.

“We anticipate that he will be back to normal by the beginning of next week so the timing is very unfortunate.

“This will leave us with a dilemma where to go in order to get another run before the Arkle. The Pendil at Kempton would be an option, although it is over two and a half miles which is not ideal.

“There are very few alternatives except for a newly created two-mile novice at Bangor on 26th February but that is getting horribly close to Cheltenham.”

Sir Gino has had just one start over fences so far, when running out a hugely impressive winner of the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase at Kempton over Christmas.

Henderson added: “It’s very annoying. He will be on the water treadmill and he will be in there today and tomorrow and hopefully we will be riding him again on Monday.”

Coral eased Sir Gino to 8-11 favourite from 4-6 in the betting for My Pension Expert Arkle Trophy in response to the late change in plan. The firm also trimmed the second favourite, Majborough to 7-4 from 2-1.

“All racing fans will be hoping Sir Gino’s absence from Newbury is just a temporary setback, as he is one of the most exciting jumpers in training right now, but clearly missing the Game Spirit is not ideal, and as a result, we have eased his Arkle odds slightly, albeit he remains odds-on favourite for the race,” said Coral’s David Stevens.