The unbeaten 4-y-o Sir Gino was among 11 horses left in at the five-day stage for the BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle (G1) which is due off at 2:10pm at Newcastle Racecourse on Saturday.
Sir Gino marked himself out as a potential star when running away with the Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (G1) at Aintree at the Grand National meeting.
His trainer Nicky Henderson has won this Grade 1 contest a record eight times, and issued a positive update on one of his stable stars over the weekend.
Henderson said: “The plan is for Sir Gino to go to Newcastle on Saturday. He's in very good form. He's already been out for his racecourse gallop, so he doesn't need a mad workout ahead of the race. We're all very happy and it's the way we're going to go.”
This is one of very few races Champion Trainer Willie Mullins is yet to win, but that could change on Saturday with dual Grade 1 scorer Mystical Power left in. The well-bred JP McManus-owned 5-y-o made up for his second-placed effort in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with wins at the Aintree and Punchestown Festivals last season.
The Harry Derham-trained Brentford Hope has improved leaps and bounds since being sent hurdling, and is a course winner at Gosforth Park. He has the benefit of race fitness on his side but must prove himself at this level. Similar comments apply to Nemean Lion, who would have a chance of his win in the Jennings Bet Kingwell Hurdle (G2) last season.
Another Welsh-trained challenger who could make the trip to the North-East this weekend is the Welsh Champion Hurdle winner Lump Sum. The form of his win in that seasonal reappearance race was well franked at the weekend.
The Gary & Josh Moore-trained Salver lost nothing in defeat when a very respectable third in the JCB Triumph Hurdle. The 4yo looked above average when slamming his rivals in the Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle last year.
Other potential runners include Colonel Mustard, Kihavah, Takenochances, Tellherthename and Benson.
Jane Hedley, Clerk of The Course at Newcastle, said: “The North East has missed the deluge of rain which has hit much of the rest of the country this weekend, and with just the 12mm falling at Newcastle, the ground remains Good. The week ahead also looks largely dry, and so some watering will be required to maintain this description. Temperatures look relatively mild for the time of year, and so after a brief dip mid-week they remain in the range of +3C to +8C into the weekend.”
BetMGM latest odds: Sir Gino 11/10f, Mystical Power 11/8, Brentford Hope 6/1, Salver 11/1, 14/1 BAR
UK Director at BetMGM, Sam Behar, said: "We might not have Constitution Hill, but we've still got a really classy 11 remaining for this year's Grade 1 BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle.
"Constitution Hill's stablemate, Sir Gino, is the favourite at 11/10, but looks to have a very worthy adversary in Willie Mullins' dual Grade 1 winner Mystical Power at 11/8, while the likes of Brentford Hope, who finished 2nd in the BetMGM Elite Hurdle earlier this month, and Salver are 6/1 and 11/1 respectively.”
