3 minute read
Nicky Henderson has announced that both Sir Gino and Shanagh Bob will not take part in their respective races at Cheltenham on Friday.
The Seven Barrows-based handler has suffered a torrid time at the Cheltenham Festival thus far with the majority of his horses being withdrawn due to health issues within the yard.
Nicky Henderson announced on Wednesday morning that Jonbon would not take on El Fabiolo in their highly anticipated Champion Chase clash. He also announced leading British Gold Cup fancy Shishkin would not take his chance on the Friday feature and warned punters that further withdrawals were likely.
On Thursday morning Henderson confirmed that neither Triumph Hurdle favourite Sir Gino nor leading British Albert Bartlett fancy Shanagh Bob would take their chance on Friday's card.
In a statement released on X, formerly known as Twitter, Henderson said: "Very sadly we've had to make a very tough decision to not run Sir Gino in the Triumph Hurdle tomorrow, and the same applies to Shanagh Bob in the Albert Bartlett.
"Both horses appear to be in great shape, but we cannot ignore the performance of all our horses throughout the week, and last week as well, and we feel it would be crazy to chance it with two young high-class horses with their lives in front of them."
The news adds a further blow to what has already proven a horrendous Cheltenham Festival for the multiple champion trainer, who earlier in the month was forced to rule out long odds-on Champion Hurdle favourite Constitution Hill following a below-par racecourse gallop at Kempton.
Britain's chances of getting a first graded winner on the board took a further knock when trainer Fergal O'Brien confirmed Dysart Enos, who was a general 4/1 chance, had suffered a setback and was unable to take her chance in the Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle on day three.
O'Brien, who is still in search of a first Cheltenham Festival winner, said: "It's a huge blow, she's got an overreach, unfortunately.
"It's not serious, it's just horrendous timing. If it had happened earlier, we might have been able to do something about it, but that's where we are.
"We'll get her right before we make any plans."
Willie Mullins has enjoyed something of a Cheltenham Festival domination this far and the withdrawal of Sir Gino has seen him inherit something of a stranglehold on the Triumph Hurdle market. Last month's Spring Juvenile Hurdle third Majborough is now 5/2 to land the Friday opener, while stablemates Storm Heart and Kargese, who finished ahead of the JP McManus-owned contender at Leopardstown, are 4/1 and 13/2 respectively.
