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Harry Fry sends Nicky Henderson warning as racing world awaits Sir Gino update
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HARRY FRY is hopeful he has sown the seeds of fear into Nicky Henderson should Sir Gino be able to line-up for the Pendil Novices’ Chase at Kempton a week on Saturday.
The racing world this morning waits for an update on star novice Sir Gino after vets have checked him over.
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Henderson is set to release a statement later today.
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Should all be well, one of the possibilities for Sir Gino - as a way of getting more match practice - is the Grade 2 Pendil.
That race is also the target for Fry’s class novice Gidleigh Park, the winner of five of his seven races and who returned to form with a bang at Windsor last time, making all and smashing up Caldwell Potter by four cosy lengths.
On Sunday, Fry’s fellow trainer Dan Skelton said: “If he (Sir Gino) goes to the Pendil he will cater round. If he goes to Bangor he will canter round.”
Not according to Fry, young Dan!
I was in the right spot at the right time at Newbury on Saturday to hear Fry just catch Henderson off guard.
Although all firmly tongue in cheek, Fry quipped to the master of Seven Barrows: “It didn’t put me in the best mood driving to the races when I heard Sir Gino was now possibly being re-routed to the Pendil! That’s where I’m going with Gidleigh Park.”
Henderson has said he wants Sir Gino to have a test before Chetlenham, but Gidleigh Park would be a pretty tasty rival so close to the Festival.
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Today, Fry added: "Nicky didn’t sound all that keen to run over two and a half miles so I tried to sow the seed in his mind it might not be the best idea. Of course we all just want Sir Gino to be fit and well, but I’d rather he didn’t go to Kempton.
“It’s a Grade 2 - it’s not going to be the canter round he thought it might be.
“Gidleigh Park is absolutely on target for Kempton. Cheltenham is coming too soon for us, and we also need more experience. Kempton fits in nicely before going to Aintree.
“I’m really happy with Gidleigh Park. He’s come out of the Windsor race fine. He could have gone for the Kingmaker, but we wanted to wait a little longer.”
On a different note, Fry reported that another of his quality inmates, Boothill, is now out of the season.
Boothill was last seen finishing last behind Jonbon in the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase at Ascot.
Fry said: “The season is over for Boothill. He struck into himself at Ascot. The prognosis is good for him long term but he had to have an operation. He’ll be back.”
In other news, former Group 1 hero Live in the Dream, has also had more difficulties and after a short spell with new handler Ed Walker has left his yard.
Owned by Steve and Jolene De’Lemos, Live in the Dream landed York’s biggest sprint prize in 2023 but has found things tricky since, despite a bold bid in that year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
‘Fred’, as Live in the Dream is affectionately known, has now returned to Mildmay Farm and Stud after suffering a traumatic setback.
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He will recover there before hopefully heading back to Walker’s stable in the future.
Live in the Dream has terrific owners and we all just hope he makes a full recovery and can enable everyone to do what his name says in the future.
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