Frustrating day for 40

Trials day at Cheltenham on Saturday was marred by the injury sustained by Sir Gino when pulling up after the third last in the Grade 2 International Hurdle. Unbeaten beforehand, the triple Grade 1 winner is suspected to have suffered a pelvic injury. Regarded as one of the most talented horses to have emerged from Seven Barrows, the six year old sustained an infection in February last year which nearly cost him his life and has been plagued with ill-fortune throughout his short career. His absence from the impeding Cheltenham Festival in March is a huge loss to the meeting. Understandably, Nicky Henderson looked shell shocked when interviewed shortly afterwards. 

While Grey Dawning failed to read the scipt in the Cotswold Chase when making a mistake at the second last and eventually finishing third behind a resurgent Spillane's Tower, who was recording his first win since April 2024, it wasn't a bad day at the office for Dan Skelton with The New Lion claiming the aforementioned International Hurdle and Maestro Conti making three out of three in the Grade 2 juvenile hurdle. The ex-French gelding had recorded a smooth success on his UK debut at Kempton over the Festive period but more was required here. The gelded son of Prince Gibraltar dug deep in the homestraight to get the better of the gutsy One Horse Town and expensive purchase Minella Yoga. Although he did well to win having raced keenly during the early exchanges, the half-brother to stablemate Live Conti will need to find more to trouble the likes of Narciso Has and co. 

Frustrating is the best word to use in terms of describing the two defeats of the Top 40 runners on Saturday. Manlaga, who reportedly doesn't show a great deal at home, shaped well on her British bow finishing a close second behind compatriot Manganese conceding five pounds. The daughter of Maxios was racing for the first time since March last year and, having travelled strongly into the Listed juvenile hurdle at Doncaster, she left the impression she will improve for the outing. Her connections have options in the spring - entered in the Triumph Hurdle, she only more run before qualifying for the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle a couple of days earlier. 

An hour later Jagwar failed by a head to reel in Donnacha in the valuable two and a half miles handicap chase. Third in the December Gold Cup over C&D last month, Jonjo O'Neill's mount was ridden close to the pace and his jumping was sound for most of the race. He appeared to be full of running turning for home but a couple of scruffy leaps at the last two fences didn't aid his cause. There is a fair argument for saying he had every chance of the last but Nigel Hawke's winner found more for pressure with the pair stretching ten lengths clear of the third. Bred to stay at least three miles. it was hoped Jagwar would have been asked sooner and his jockey more positive over the last two fences. One day he will stick gold because there is no doubting his ability. His performance summed up his exasperating season thus far.

On a more positive note, there were a couple of featured winners in One Jump Ahead at Uttoxeter, including Jo Coko (9/2) who is highlighted in the Stable Switchers section. The seven year old was having only his second run for Nicky Richards and stepped forward from his reappearance at Newcastle last month when winning the staying novices' handicap chase off a mark of 110. Fitted with cheekpieces for the first time, stamina is very much his forte battling on dourly to beat the once high-class Hillcrest by two and a quarter lengths with fifty lengths back to the third. Earlier on the card, Tales of Bravery (2/1) provided Declan Phelan's Irish Pointers article with yet another winner. The six year old was getting off the mark over timber at the third attempt and benefited from a positive front running ride by Charlie Todd winning the two miles maiden hurdle by nine lengths. 

During racing on Saturday, I received a message regarding two exciting youngsters who were bought recently and have yet to run for their new connections. News of the pair will be revealed in the February Update. If you haven't ordered a copy, plus the Cheltenham and Aintree Updates, please head to the Publications section of the site.