Equinties - Challow Saturday

Gm Equinauts

Well, it’s hard to think of many people who went to bed happier after the best Christmas ever than Nicky Henderson last night. On Boxing Day, his stable star CONSTITUTION HILL returned to track and then the winners’ enclosure by beating up wonder-mare LOSSIEMOUTH

and then yesterday, SIR GINO won in devastating fashion on his chase debut in the Grade 2 Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase, producing one of the performances of a life time.

From all angles, this performance was epic but boy did he have a lot of weight to carry, and we’re not talking about Nico.

Nicky Henderson has banged on about his schooling at home, even coming out with statements like ‘you’ve never seen one jump like this before’, a big weight of responsibility on his shoulders before he’s even sniffed a fence in public, especially given he’s only bloody 4yo.

Doing it on track versus at home is a different ball game altogether - the pressure of racing does things to horses. Every trainer has had that ‘morning glory’ horse who does everything they ask of them at home but never on track.

Add to that a reminder of just exactly who BALLYBURN is, last years best novice hurdler, and you’ve got yourself one daunting task ahead of you for your first try over fences - straight into a Grade 1 no less!

The reputations, the statements and the connections promised the race to be simply March come early, and boy did it deliver!

Ultimately, SIR GINO made BALLYBURN look like a 0-120 handicapper to make it one the best performances we’ve ever seen - FACT!

He soared like a leaping stag over every fence. He maybe wasn’t like as economical as JANGO BAIE was at Cheltenham, but SIR GINO didn’t get any wrong and he saw a clever stride at nearly every single obstacle before leaving them far below with some air in between.

His turn of foot and the high cruising speed he showed goes without saying, so overall, it was very…brilliant.

BALLYBURN won’t be wanting two miles again anytime soon, but he is a classy horse who looked average. That just shows the level of SIR GINO performance.

Unsurprisingly, he’s moved into fav for the Arkle, and he’s odds-on in some places which still might look a big price come game day. MAJBOROUGH fans will have a rough few nights of sleep on the back of the Wayward Lad.

Anyway, SIR GINO is very good, BALLYBURN will go up in trip (but, is he even that good?), and Henderson is King. As you were.

Now, let’s dive in.

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