Blow for Cork owners as Sir Gino ruled out of Cheltenham

Cork owners Joe and Marie Donnelly were dealt a major blow just a month out from the Cheltenham festival when trainer Nicky Henderson confirmed Sir Gino will not run again this season.

An infection has invaded the ligaments in his near hind leg. The brilliant young novice chaser had been an intended runner in last Saturday's Game Spirit Chase at Newbury for which he'd been backed into 2/5 favouritism. He was forced to miss that engagement, due to what the trainer described as a small wound on a hind leg. 

Unfortunately, that worsened and the hugely promising French recruit is now being treated in an equine hospital. He'd been a sensational winner of the Wayward Lad Novice Chase at Christmas beating subsequent Grade One winner Ballyburn. 

It was the best chasing debut I've seen in many years. He'd also won the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle when deputising for Constitution Hill.

In his absence, Willie Mullins' Majborough has shortened to 8/13 to land the Arkle Chase on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival. Sir Gino was also forced to miss last year's Triumph Hurdle when the Henderson runners were under a cloud.

SECOND BLOW

It's the second blow to Joe and Marie Donnelly having last week seen their hugely exciting hurdler Anzadam ruled out for the remainder of the season. He had followed up his Irish debut success with a facile victory at Naas in the Limestone Lad Hurdle, two weeks ago. 

However, he picked up an injury in that race that ended his season. Mullins revealed that he wouldn't be ready for Aintree and felt it wouldn't be prudent to try and get him ready for the Punchestown festival. 

Anzadam's owners Joe and Marie Donnelly will still be represented in the Unibet Champion Hurdle with last year's winner State Man currently 13/2 behind the 8/13 favourite Constitution Hill. 

State Man won last weekend's Irish Champion Hurdle for a third consecutive year. 

Connections didn't learn a whole lot after his main rival Lossiemouth departed in that contest. State Man led home a one-two for the Donnellys as their Daddy Long Legs finished second. 

The Donnellys are also due to be represented by Salvator Mundi in the Supreme Novice Hurdle. He's currently 11/2 behind another Cork-owned horse Kopek Des Bordes for that race. 

Salvator Mundi divided opinion when not pleasing everyone at Punchestown when he won the Moscow Flyer Novice hurdle which has produced subsequent Cheltenham winners in the past like Mikael D'Haguenet, Douvan and Vautour. 

Charlie McCarthy’s Monabeg Investments own the brilliant Kopek Des Bordes as the 10/11 favourite for the Supreme Novice hurdle, which will be the opening race of the festival next month. The Fermoy owner has arguably the most exciting young horse in training just now. He was a sensational winner of the Grade One Tattersalls Novice Hurdle last week.