Unbeaten Cheltenham Festival ‘banker’ ruled OUT for season just days after winning £50,000

3 months ago 21

AN unbeaten Cheltenham Festival favourite has dramatically been ruled out for the season just days after winning £50,000.

Jeroboam Machin was considered a ‘banker’ by some for the Champion Bumper after a scintillating win at Leopardstown last Saturday.

Mullins had been eyeing up the Champion Bumper pot with Jeroboam Machin[/caption]

This is lovely

Jeroboam Machin coasts to victory in the finale @LeopardstownRC as A Dream To Share loses hi unbeaten record pic.twitter.com/J1SbcOWe0t

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 3, 2024

The Emmet Mullins-trained and Paul Byrne-owned sensation was two from two under rules and had headed the market for the Flat race at next month’s Festival.

But Mullins confirmed to the Racing Post that the five-year-old gelding had picked up an injury soon after.

He said: “He is out for the season with an injury.

“It emerged after the race at the weekend and we’d be hoping he will be back for next season, there is every chance he should be, but I won’t know for a while yet.”

Jeroboam Machin had been 4-1 ante-post fav after seeing off last year’s winner A Dream To Share and Willie Mullins’ pair You Oughta Know and Redemption Day at the Dublin Racing Festival.

He had rocketed to the head of the market with an attractive profile for a shrewd trainer and owner combo.

One punter reacted to the news of his injury by saing: “Gutted, he was a banker for the Bumper.”

While another said: “Wow that is very unlucky, he looked so good and the Bumper is now a minefield once again. Hoping it’s a speedy recovery.”

And a fellow ante-post punter wrote: “He looked like a rocket on Saturday. Very unfortunate.”

Coral reported it was ‘all change’ in the betting for the 2m contest on Wednesday, March 13, the second day of the four-day Festival.

Bookies rep David Stevens said: “Jeroboam Machin took over as Champion Bumper favourite following his impressive Leopardstown success at the weekend.

“but unfortunately his time at the head of the Cheltenham betting was short-lived, although Irish runners still dominate the ante-post picture.”

Gordon Elliott’s Jalon D’oudairies and Willie Mullins’ Jasmin De Vaux now head the market at 5-1 with the firm.

While the top two Irish trainers also have Romeo Coolio and Maughreen at 8-1 respectively.

Champion Bumper betting

5-1 Jalon D’oudairies, Jasmin De Vaux
8-1 Maughreen, Romeo Coolio
12-1 William Munny, You Oughta Know
14-1 Cantico
16-1 C’est Ta Chance, Petit Secret, Teeshan