Nicky Henderson misses out on £1MILLION after nightmare Cheltenham 2024 sees him pull SEVEN horses out over mystery bug

9 months ago 64

HORSE RACING trainer Nicky Henderson has missed out on well over £1MILLION following a disastrous Cheltenham Festival.

A mystery bug has devastated the Brit’s stable this week after Constitution Hill withdrew from the Champion Hurdle earlier this month due to fitness issues.

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Seven more of his horses have been pulled out of races across the week, meaning Henderson has spurned the opportunity to win huge sums at the festival.

The biggest of those is Shishkin who could have claimed £351,688 with a win in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday.

Jonbon’s omission from the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase sees him pass up a £225,080 prize pot.

Champ is out of the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle and First Street has withdrawn from the Coral Cup Handicap Chase – leaving behind the possibility of £182,877 and £56,270 respectively.

Kingston Pride was due to go in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper which offers £45,560, while Shanagh Bob is no longer in the £76,000 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

And JCB Triumph Hurdle favourite Sir Gino has passed up a superb chance to claim £76,000.

All this adds up to an astonishing £1,275,552 that Henderson will no longer be in contention for.

Speaking earlier this week after a nightmare first day at Cheltenham, Henderson said: “I’m afraid we have had to make some very tough decisions following the very disappointing performances of all bar one of our horses yesterday.

Horses withdrawn by Nicky Henderson

Here is the breakdown of the horses pulled out by Nicky Henderson and the potential winnings they passed up

Constitution Hill (1/4) – Unibet Champion Hurdle – £262,077
Shishkin (7/1) – Cheltenham Gold Cup – £351,688
Jonbon (4/1) – Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase – £225,080
Champ (25/1) – Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle – £182,877
First Street (16/1) – Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle – £56,270
Kingston Pride (28/1) – Weatherbys Champion Bumper – £45,560
Sir Gino (5/2) – JCB Triumph Hurdle – £76,000
Shanagh Bob (12/1) – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle – £76,000

“It was there for all to see that there is obviously something affecting nearly all our horses and consequently we have reluctantly decided that Jonbon, First Street and Kingston Pride will not run today.

“It is impossible to identify any reason for all the disappointments and none of these three horses have given us any cause for concern, all yesterday’s runners were scoped clean post-race and I am 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.”