The final weekend in March marked the start of the turf flat season, as Doncaster opened its doors for the first time in 2026. Once underway, Jack Channon stole the show on Town Moor, as Urban Lion roared in the Lincoln. Over in Ireland, the most talked-about member of Aidan O’Brien’s Classic squad limbered up for a potential tilt at the 2,000 Guineas. Unfortunately, it is back to the drawing board for Albert Einstein (and those who backed him) as the colt fluffed his lines at the Curragh.
Earlier in the week, the highs and lows of the Nicky Henderson rollercoaster continued. The week began with heartbreak at Seven Barrows with the tragic loss of Sir Gino. In need of a boost, Constitution Hill did his best to lift spirits as his flat adventure continued in style at Kempton.
Sir Gino Loses Health Battle
The saddest headline of the week arrived on Tuesday, 24th March. Two months after sustaining a fractured pelvis in the Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham, the Nicky Henderson-trained star Sir Gino was put to sleep at the Three Counties Equine Hospital. While his fracture was healing well, a deep-rooted infection took hold, and the six-year-old could not be saved.
We have very sadly lost the battle to overcome Sir Gino’s ailment and he has had to be put to sleep at the veterinary hospital this morning.
He has been fighting from severe deep-seated infections that he had overcome last year prior to his brilliant return in the Christmas…
— Nicky Henderson (@sevenbarrows) March 24, 2026
This news marked a tragic loss to Henderson, owners Joe and Marie Donnelly, and the sport as a whole. Unbeaten in six completed outings, Sir Gino struck three times in Grade 1 company and was the clear favourite for the 2026 Champion Hurdle before pulling up injured in the Unibet Hurdle. A star who shone brightly during his short time as a racehorse, Sir Gino seemed sure to scale even greater heights, only for fate to so cruelly intervene.
Hill on Top at Kempton
With the yard reeling from the Sir Gino news, Wednesday saw Henderson’s most famous horse make his next racecourse appearance. No longer a National Hunt performer, Constitution Hill headed to the Kempton Polytrack for his second outing as a flat performer.
| Pos | Horse | SP | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Constitution Hill | 1/7 | Nicky Henderson | Ryan Moore |
| 2nd | Classical Allusion | 5/1 | Andrew Balding | Callum Hutchinson |
| 3rd | Keep It Cool | 50/1 | James Owen | Christian Howarth |
Having confirmed his flat potential with an emphatic victory at Southwell by almost 10 lengths, the nine-year-old started at odds of 1/7 for this Class 3 assignment. While perhaps lacking the wow factor of that debut win in Nottinghamshire, this was still a comprehensive victory for the 2023 Champion Hurdle hero. Racing comfortably in midfield for much of the race, Constitution Hill quickened smartly off a slow pace to put the race to bed in a matter of strides. Tougher assignments await, with a step up in class for the Group 3 John Porter Stakes on 18th April reportedly next on the agenda.
Doncaster Delight for Jack
Home of the historic St Leger Stakes, the South Yorkshire track of Doncaster is also the course at which the turf season begins and ends. The latest beginning came on Saturday afternoon, with an eight-race card headlined by the Lincoln Handicap.
The market suggested that the Harry Eustace-trained La Botte, or Eternal Force, from the yard of five-time Lincoln winner William Haggas, was the most likely to prevail. However, as the only other runner who started at a single-figure price, Jack Channon’s Urban Lion was certainly well-fancied. Hitting the front at the furlong pole, the mount of Edward Greatrex was reeled in by Rogue Diplomat but stuck his head down where it mattered to land a thriller by a nose.
That win capped one of Jack Channon’s best afternoons since taking over from his father, the former Southampton and England footballer, Mick Channon, in 2023. Earlier on the card, his sole entry, Mezcala, came home in front in the Spring Mile Handicap, rewarding supporters of the joint favourite with an 11/2 winner and the Channon team with the first leg of a famous double.
Einstein Out of Guineas Equation
It is seemingly never too early for a 2,000 Guineas bubble to burst. As the runners set off for the Gladness Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday afternoon, Albert Einstein was out on his own atop the Guineas market. Less than two minutes later, he was 20/1 and drifting, and unlikely to even line up at Newmarket.
Unbeaten in two juvenile outings and touted as one of the quickest horses to ever emerge from Ballydoyle, Albert Einstein’s reputation had taken him to the head of the 2,000 Guineas betting. However, given his speed and the fact that he had only raced over six furlongs, the step up to a mile posed a question. With those stamina concerns in mind, how he fared in this Group 3 seven-furling contest would go some way towards shaping his season. Sent off as the 11/10 favourite, Albert Einstein finished only sixth behind the shock 25/1 winner Big Gossey. It was not the sort of performance likely to provide the foundation for Classic success.
Reacting to this display, O’Brien stated:
“The lads will decide, but my initial thought is that he’ll be coming back, and he’ll go sprinting.”
Albert Einstein may yet come good, but if he is to strike in Group 1 company, he is now more likely to do so over the 6f of the Commonwealth Cup in June rather than over the Rowley Mile in May.
