Sir Gino wins Fighting Fifth Hurdle with ease
Sir Gino underlined his Champion Hurdle credentials with a brilliant victory at the Fighting Fifth Hurdle in Newcastle.
In the absence of stablemate Constitution Hill, the 6-5 joint-favourite galloped into the lead at the top of the straight before securing a comfortable win for Nicky Henderson's Seven Barrows yard.
The unbeaten four-year-old and jockey Nico de Boinville finished ahead of Lump Sum and Kihavah in second and third, while market rival Mystical Power came a disappointing sixth.
"It's a relief. It really is. He is very, very good. He has got to prove it and he has taken another step in that direction," said Henderson.
"We were very vociferous in our opinion of him, but some people doubted him. He is as good as I have seen."
Meanwhile, Kandoo Kid gave Paul Nicholls the Coral Gold Cup win in Newbury, finishing ahead of Broadway Boy.
Victtorino Charlie Deutsch took third place while French raider General En Chef, who was set for a win but ran out of petrol after the final fence, settled for fourth.
