Nicky Henderson pulls his horses from Cheltenham amid fears over mystery bug & says ‘there will be further non-runners’

NICKY HENDERSON has pulled a number of his star runners from Cheltenham amid concerns over a mystery bug devastating his yard.

Shishkin is out of the Gold Cup, Jonbon has been scratched from the Champion Chase and there are fears red-hot Triumph Hurdle favourite Sir Gino could also be pulled.

Poor Nicky Henderson has endured a Cheltenham to forgetPA

The Seven Barrows boss, 73, has been in dismal form of late and scratched Jonbon plus First Street and Kingston Pride from Wednesday’s racing.

He was forced to withdraw Champion Hurdle king Constitution Hill earlier this month after he was found to be unwell with mucus and a ‘significant degree of inflammation’.

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And five of his six horses were pulled up on day one of the Festival.

Henderson said in a statement: “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.

“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.”

Before he later announced: “Very sadly it will not be possible for Shishkin to run in the Gold Cup on Friday.

“He was scoped as we have all our potential runners this week, but unfortunately he has shown an unsatisfactory picture on which he couldn’t possibly run.

“He appears to be 100 per cent in himself and had been working and schooling better than ever and we really were looking forward to Friday.

“It is 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 that equivalent race at Aintree could be on the agenda.”

Henderson’s shock decision came as it was announced the Cross Country Chase had been abandoned.

The 4.10pm race has been scrapped altogether with the track unraceable – and the times of the first four races all changed.

Henderson’s top chaser Jonbon had been set for a blockbuster rematch with Willie Mullins’ El Fabiolo in the feature race on Wednesday.

But that contest now looks a penalty kick for the top two-miler, who could form the final leg of a treble banker acca alongside his other horses Ballyburn and Fact To File.

First Street had been a 25-1 hope for the Coral Cup while Kingston Pride had been around 33-1 for the concluding Champion Bumper.

Not all of Henderson’s runners will be missing though.

Jingko Blue is a 20-1 chance for the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle, the first contest on day two at the rearranged time of 1.45pm.

While Doddiethegreat is a 9-1 poke for the Coral Cup and Lucky Place keeps his place in the Coral Cup.

Henderson has six horses currently declared for tomorrow’s racing.

But huge doubts now surround Sir Gino, who has been the favourite for Friday’s Triumph since absolutely bolting up on Trials Day.

The horse has been odds-on for weeks but is now as big as 7-4 as punters desert Henderson’s runners.

Sir Gino IS declared on the BHA website with Nico de Boinville set to ride.

However it remains to be seen if Henderson will consider risking what many consider a banker given his stable’s shocking form.

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