Well that’s it for Welsh Grand National day and while it was terrific to see (when you could see any of the action) a stirring finish for the Chepstow contest there was just one horse to concentrate on … and that was Sir Gino, who put up one of the most impressive novice chase debuts for many a long year at Kempton.
The Arkle Chase beckons for that brilliant winner of the Wayward Lad Chase for trainer Nicky Henderson, who reported afterwards: “He’s always had a huge amount of talent and this sort of track suits him really well because he’s got a lot of speed.
“I think he has to have another run. You could say ‘what can you teach him?’. Probably not a lot, but you’ve just got to be respecting these things because it is all a little bit too easy for him today.
“This is a lovely place to learn without getting the big tests, which you’re going to get at Sandowns, Ascots and Cheltenhams. They’re different tests and you’ve just got to have your wits about you a little bit more than you need to round here, but this is a great place to start.”
The Kingmaker Chase at Warwick is the likely next port of call says Henderson, who also told the Racing Post that Constitution Hill is well after his reappearance win at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Henderson said no decision had been made about whether the nine-time winner would run in the Unibet Hurdle at the track on January 25 (but let’s hope so as any time we can see this horse it’s for the benefit of the sport).
The trainer added: “He’ll come on from it and [his jockey] Nico [de Boinville] was adamant about that. He’s absolutely fine and he was sound this morning. He ate up last night and he’s been out in his little paddock this morning. He’s just being himself, but he’s learning to wake up on the racecourse now.
“He’s going round with his ears pricked and he was taking it all in yesterday. It doesn’t get him excited, because it never will, but he’s getting the hang of the fact he’s a bit different.”
Updated
Ladbrokes Handicap Chase (Kempton, 3.08pm) result
1 Beachcomber 10/1
2 Frero Banbou 11/4 fav
3 Golden Son 9/1
