Sir Gino brings winning smile back to Henderson's face

Nicky Henderson glimpsed "light at the end of the tunnel" as after drawing a blank at the Cheltenham Festival for the first time in 16 years the English trainer's Sir Gino won on the opening day of the Grand National meeting on Thursday.

Sir Gino made up for his late withdrawal from Cheltenham's Triumph Hurdle by landing the Grade One Juvenile Hurdle.

It was far from straightforward for his jockey Nico de Boinville, as he made a hash of the final two hurdles but he still managed to get the better of second favourite Kargese.

The latter's trainer Willie Mullins was first to congratulate Henderson and De Boinville said after punching the air and puffing out his cheeks in relief how welcome the win was to the stable.

"Makes up for a lot of it, been a couple of really tough months," said de Boinville.

"Fair dues to the staff and boss they have kept a smile on their faces despite that.

"You take the rough with the smooth, but the smooth makes up for a lot of the rough."

For Henderson it was also a welcome upturn in fortunes.

The 73-year-old training great said there had rarely been any doubts over Sir Gino's well being, only his stable's.

"He has not been anywhere but we have," chuckled Henderson.

"The good thing about bad days is you always hope there is light at the end of the tunnel."

However, the light dimmed ever so slightly in the next for the same connections including owners Jim and Marie Donnelly.

Their one time Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Shishkin, who like Sir Gino was withdrawn at Cheltenham, failed to fire and was a distant fourth to Gerri Colombe in the feature Bowl Chase.

The winner had looked to be struggling before they entered the finishing straight but a magnificent leap at the penultimate fence re-energised him.

He fought out a thrilling duel with Ahoy Senor before Jack Kennedy got the Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up's nose in front.

For Lucinda Russell and Derek Gox, Ahoy Senor's trainer and rider respectively, it was a marvellous lead in to Saturday's Grand National as they return with defending champion Corach Rambler.

Indeed Gerri Colombe's win franked the Gold Cup form and boosted National favourite Corach Rambler's credentials as he finished third in the blue riband.

"The Gold Cup is a very tough race so he was not at his best today as he gave everything in that race," said Kennedy.

"To come here and do what he did is a sign of how tough he is."

- 'On fire' -

There had been a wee bit of a surprise in the opener when Mullins's Il Etait Temps, third at Cheltenham romped home in the Grade One Novices Chase.

Jockey Paul Townend had nine lengths to spare over Ginny's Destiny with favourite Grey Dawning a head back in third.

Victory was rich compensation for Mullins as Il Etait Temps had finished third in his race at Cheltenham whilst Grey Dawning had beaten Ginny's Destiny in their clash at the Festival.

Mullins secured a second Grade One later as his Impaire et Passe prevailed in a thrilling finish to the Aintree Hurdle.

Townend looked as if he had been edged close to home by Rachael Blackmore on Bob Ollinger with English runner Dan Langer dipping for the line at the same time.

However, Townend got the nod for the photo finish and then came through a stewards enquiry to get his hands on the £140,000 ($175,000) winners cheque.

Mullins's nephew Emmett Mullins warmed up for his 2022 Grand National winner Noble Yeats's bid to regain his crown on Saturday with an impressive win for Its On The Line in the Foxhunters Chase.

The winner was given a beautiful ride by Irish amateur Derek O'Connor who was winning his second Foxhunters, but first over the modified course.

"He was on fire today," said 41-year-old O'Connor.

"I got a lot of pleasure from this as he lays it all out on the table."

pi/nr