Sir Gino’s Cheltenham Injury Stuns Racing Fans Nationwide

There was an air of anticipation at Cheltenham on January 24, 2026, as over 25,000 racing fans packed the stands, eager to witness Sir Gino—an equine superstar in the making—extend his glittering record in the Grade Two Unibet Hurdle on Festival Trials Day. But what began as a day brimming with excitement quickly turned somber, as the odds-on favorite suffered a suspected pelvic injury, casting a pall over one of the sport’s most promising stories.

Sir Gino, a six-year-old bay gelding trained by the legendary Nicky Henderson, had returned to action in the Grade One Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day, following a year-long absence. That enforced break was the result of a serious leg infection that had threatened both his career and his life. Against the odds, Sir Gino had bounced back in style, defeating reigning champion Golden Ace and reaffirming his status as the ante-post market leader for the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

On this fateful Saturday, Sir Gino was sent off at odds of 2/5 in the four-runner Unibet Hurdle. He looked every inch the champion, held up at the back of the field by jockey Nico de Boinville, skipping over the obstacles with his trademark ease. The crowd, buzzing with expectation, watched as he sauntered through the early stages, his power barely contained. But as the field approached the third-last flight, disaster struck. Sir Gino took four more strides, and suddenly his right hind leg went limp. De Boinville reacted instantly, pulling up the stricken favorite as the green veterinary screens were erected with alarming speed.

Racecourse veterinarians rushed to the scene, quickly administering pain relief and stabilizing Sir Gino. The mood in the stands shifted from exhilaration to shock, as the reality of the situation set in. The New Lion, who ultimately won the race in a close finish with Nemean Lion and Brentford Hope, drew little attention as all eyes—and hearts—were with Sir Gino and his connections.

Trainer Nicky Henderson, visibly emotional in a subsequent ITV interview, provided an update on his prized charge’s condition. “They were able to put him into the ambulance. It’s his right hind, it appears to be high up so there’s no lower limb fractures – it would appear to be a pelvic injury at the moment,” Henderson explained. “He has loaded and I’d rather they take him to Three Counties veterinary hospital without unloading here and then they can assess and scan and just see where we are. Everybody is fighting.”

The gravity of the situation was not lost on anyone at Cheltenham. Henderson, who has trained many champions in his storied career, struggled to hide his concern and affection for Sir Gino. “Pelvic injuries can be little or big, so we’ve just got to keep everything crossed. We won’t know anymore tonight. They need a chance to assess him so it will be late on I expect,” he added, emphasizing the uncertainty that now loomed over Sir Gino’s future.

The Jockey Club released a statement shortly after the incident, confirming the sequence of events: “In our sixth race of the day, Sir Gino was quickly pulled up and was dismounted. He was immediately attended to by our expert veterinary team where he was assessed on course. Sir Gino has walked onto the horse ambulance to go back to the stables for further assessment.” The horse was then transported directly to the Three Counties Equine Hospital in Tewkesbury for a thorough evaluation, with hopes of determining the full extent of the suspected pelvic injury.

For Sir Gino’s owners, Joe and Marie Donnelly, and for Henderson’s Seven Barrows team, the day’s events were a gut punch. The love and admiration for the horse was palpable among the crowd and racing fraternity alike. Sir Gino had become a household name not just for his talent, but for the resilience he’d shown in overcoming a potentially career-ending infection just the year before. Henderson himself reflected on the special nature of his charge, stating, “I’ve been lucky enough to have many good horses but I haven’t had many like him, I can tell you that.”

The injury cast a long shadow over the remainder of Trials Day. Jockey Harry Skelton, who rode The New Lion to victory, summed up the collective sentiment: “At the top of the hill, the first thing all three of us said was, ‘Where’s Nico [de Boinville]?’ You don’t want that to happen and hopefully they are okay.” Dan Skelton, trainer of The New Lion, echoed the concern, remarking, “Hopefully Sir Gino is ok. I’m a big fan of horse racing, and we just hope he is ok – the team at Seven Barrows have been through a really tough time.”

Sir Gino’s record on the track speaks for itself: seven wins from eight starts, including his impressive return in the Christmas Hurdle. His performances had set him apart as the leading contender for the Champion Hurdle, and his presence alone had drawn thousands to Cheltenham, eager to witness history in the making. Yet, the sport’s inherent risks were laid bare in an instant, reminding everyone of the fine line between triumph and tragedy.

The immediate focus now shifts to Sir Gino’s recovery and the outcome of his veterinary assessment. As Henderson stressed, “Pelvic injuries can be little ones and big ones. We just have to keep everything crossed.” The prognosis remains uncertain, with no further updates expected until late in the evening, once the veterinary team has completed its scans and evaluations.

In the meantime, the racing world waits with bated breath, united in hope for a positive outcome for Sir Gino—a horse whose courage and class have already made him an icon, regardless of what the future holds. The events at Cheltenham serve as a sobering reminder of the sport’s unpredictability, but also of the deep bonds between horse, trainer, jockey, and fans.

As night falls over Cheltenham, the fate of its brightest star remains unresolved. But one thing is certain: Sir Gino’s fighting spirit, and the outpouring of support from the racing community, will not be forgotten anytime soon.