Sir Gino put up a scintillating show to see off Ballyburn in a much-anticipated conflict within the Ladbrokes Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase at Kempton Park.
For the second time in two days, the Grade Two contest threw up a mouthwatering conflict between two superstars from the powerhouse yards of Nicky Henderson and Willie Mullins.
And as was the case within the Christmas Hurdle, by which Structure Hill noticed off Lossiemouth, prime honours went to Seven Barrows – and in some model, too.
Sir Gino, so spectacular when deputising for Structure Hill within the Preventing Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on his seasonal reappearance, was the well-backed 8/13 favorite to make a successful debut over the bigger obstacles beneath Nico de Boinville.
Ballyburn, a triple Grade One-winning novice hurdler final season and near foot-perfect on his chasing debut at Punchestown final month, was a 7/4 likelihood within the palms of Paul Townend.
The large two dominated for a lot of the two-mile contest, with Ballyburn initially holding sway earlier than De Boinville gave Sir Gino his head and allowed him to stride on racing down the again straight.
Ballyburn did his greatest to remain within the race, however Sir Gino saved popping out on prime within the leaping stakes and located a gear Ballyburn merely couldn’t stay with shortly after the house flip.
Sir Gino had the race in safe-keeping supplied he safely negotiated the ultimate fence and he did simply that to seal a hugely-impressive seven-and-a-half-length verdict.
