Dec 23,2024
Nicky Henderson feels that if Sir Gino is going to lose his novice tag over fences, then he may as well do it in a worthwhile race.
The Fighting Fifth Hurdle winner has been entered to make his chasing debut in the Ladbrokes Wayward Lad Novices' Chase at Kempton on Friday.
He is also in the Christmas Hurdle, along with stablemate Constitution Hill, but it is Henderson’s stated preference to run the former champion if everything is in order.
In an ideal world, Henderson would have no qualms letting Sir Gino make his chasing debut in the Wayward Lad, despite its Grade Two status, but there is the possibility of coming up against Willie Mullins’ hugely exciting Ballyburn, who has also been entered at Kempton.
"If Gino is going to lose his maiden over fences, it’s got to be worthwhile, otherwise he’d be better off as a novice next year," Henderson said.
"We’ve got to see where we are, he’s won a Grade One hurdle already this year, so I’ve got to get him to Kempton and that’s it, then we’ll find out."
Ballyburn does have a Christmas option at Limerick but speaking at Thurles on Saturday, Mullins pointed towards a trip to England.
He said: "Ballyburn is in both Kempton and Limerick but it looks like Kempton for him.
"Hopefully there’ll be nice ground there, it suits time-wise and we might have three horses – Impaire Et Passe, Mirazur West and Sa Majeste – for the Limerick race."
Mullins added on some of his other stars: "Fact To File and Galopin Des Champs are both well and fine, and both worked this morning. Both are on course to run in the Savills, while State Man is in good order and runs in the Matheson."
