Jonbon taken out of Champion Chase amid concerns over health of Nicky Henderson string
Nicky Henderson insists Triumph Hurdle favourite Sir Gino will take his chance on Friday after the six-time champion trainer took out high-profile Cheltenham Festival runners Jonbon and Shishkin due to concerns over the health of his string.
On Tuesday, five of the six Henderson-trained runners were pulled up with the trainer saying there was "something affecting their performance" when announcing the news on X on Wednesday morning, before later confirming plans for the rest of the week.
Yet Sir Gino – his only favourite of the week – will appear in the opener on Gold Cup day, although he has drifted to 9-4 (from 7-4).
Henderson said on Wednesday afternoon: "There shouldn't be any more withdrawals and the ones who have been declared for Friday are intended to run as they've all checked out okay. It's pretty shitty all together but everyone has been very kind and I appreciate it.
"We're going to run some of these older horses because we can't find anything wrong and it says they're perfectly all right.
"It's been a horrible situation since Constitution Hill went to Kempton really. I'd like to think Sir Gino is our best remaining chance and everything we run should have a chance, but you just can't guarantee at what level they are going to run."
Jonbon was set to star in a fascinating rematch with El Fabiolo in the Champion Chase (4.00) and his withdrawal means that rival has shortened to 1-3 in the big-race betting.
Shishkin (right): ruled out of the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Gold Cup hope Shishkin will also miss the meeting having scoped badly, as will Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle hope Champ. Henderson's 2023 Champion Hurdle winner Constitution Hill missed his title defence having scoped dirty in the build-up to the festival.
On Wednesday, Henderson also took out First Street, a 25-1 shot in the Coral Cup, and Champion Bumper hope Kingston Pride.
The yard will still be represented on Wednesday's card by Jingko Blue in the Gallagher Novices' Hurdle (1.45) and by Coral Cup (3.15) fancies Doddiethegreat and Lucky Place.
The statement read: "I'm afraid we've had to make some very tough decisions following the very disappointing performances of all bar one of our horses yesterday.
"It was there for all to see that there's obviously something affecting nearly all our horses and consequently we have reluctantly decided that Jonbon, First Street and Kingston Pride will not run today.
Jonbon: had been set to renew rivalry with El Fabiolo in the Champion Chase
"It's impossible to identify any reason for all the disappointments and none of these three horses have given us any cause for concern and all yesterday's runners were scoped clean post-race and I'm glad to say all are sound this morning. There will unfortunately be further non-runners on Thursday and Friday.
"I hope everybody will appreciate that we have to do this in everybody's interests, particularly the horses. It is very, very disappointing for everybody."
Shishkin was Britain's leading chance in the Cheltenham Gold Cup (3.30) at 13-2 but he was not among those declared on Wednesday. Champ was 33-1 for the Stayers' Hurdle (3.30), the highlight on Thursday's card.
Henderson added in a second statement: "Very sadly it won't be possible for Shishkin to run in the Gold Cup on Friday. He was scoped as have all our potential runners this week, but unfortunately he's shown an unsatisfactory picture on which he couldn't possibly run.
"He appears to be 100 per cent in himself and has been working and schooling better than ever and we really were looking forward to Friday. It's hoped that along with all the other non-participants this week that they will be back in time for Aintree or Punchestown.
"Regrettably Champ has also succumbed and will not run in tomorrow's Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle and the equivalent race at Aintree could be on the agenda."
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