Nicky Henderson has confirmed his star hurdler Sir Gino suffered a fractured pelvis in the Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham. The odds-on favourite for the Grade Two event was pulled up just after halfway, ending his bid for the Champion Hurdle. Initial reports state the six-year-old is "comfortable and stable" after being transferred to the Three Counties veterinary clinic for scans.

The injury is a devastating blow for Henderson, who had only recently celebrated Sir Gino's return. After a year-long layoff with a leg infection that threatened his career, the horse had looked imperious in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. Beating the reigning champion Golden Ace confirmed his class, making this pelvic fracture a cruel setback for the stable and the upcoming Festival.

Prognosis remains guarded as veterinary teams assess the injury's extent over the coming days. Pelvic fractures vary in severity, and the horse's recovery timeline is unknown. For Henderson, losing a horse of Sir Gino's calibre is a rare blow. All attention now shifts to the medical updates from the Three Counties clinic and the future of this promising hurdler.