NICKY HENDERSON insists massive Cheltenham Festival favourite Sir Gino is ‘100 per cent’ – despite a big drift that caused the markets to be suspended.
The favourite for Friday’s Triumph saw his odds rocket on the Betfair Exchange on Saturday night.
Henderson’s horses have been in poor form the past few days and he has been forced to pull Constitution Hill out of racing’s biggest meeting.
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There were fears for Sir Gino over the weekend as rumours spread he could be suffering an illness or failing to shine in work.
But Henderson told Nick Luck on Sunday the horse is in perfect shape for Friday’s opener.
Asked if the horse was well, Hendo said: “He was yesterday and today – he was in great form.
“I don’t know where this rumour has come from, it’s one of those things they love to throw at you to test your mental agility. It’s crazy.
“He schooled on Thursday and you won’t see anything slicker.
“He was in great form yesterday morning and he is 100 per cent, I promise you 100 per cent.”
Sir Gino had been odds-on 8-11 on Thursday before rumours started spreading online.
You can now get 11-10 with some bookies – and the horse actually hit a high of 4 (3-1) on the Exchange.
Sir Gino, who is owned by the Donnellys of Shishkin and Al Boum Photo fame, is three from three in his career.
The four-year-old was absolutely electric in slamming former Triumph favourite Burdett Road by ten lengths on Trials Day.
He jumped for fun and displayed a rapid turn of foot to hammer already-beaten rivals.
With Constitution Hill out of the Champion Hurdle, Sir Gino is Henderson’s best chance of a Cheltenham winner according to the market.
And how he could do with a winner on the biggest stage.
It’s been an understandably quiet few days for the 73-year-old handler as he readies his big guns for Prestbury Park.
But three of his past six runners have been pulled up and another horse, Crazierthandaisy, was withdrawn on vet’s advice at Sandown yesterday.
Spring Note has been his only winner over the past fortnight, winning a handicap hurdle at Newbury on March 2.
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