Horse trainer Nicky Henderson misses out on potential £1.3MILLION windfall at Cheltenham Festival as seven of his horses withdraw due to illness


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Nicky Henderson and his horses have had a miserable Cheltenham Festival after seven of them pulled out due to illness, seeing him lose out on almost £1.3million.

The most notable is Shishkin, who was in the running for £351,688 in Friday’s Cheltenham Gold Cup. 

It has been a dire time for Henderson, who had to withdraw 2023 Champion Hurdle winner Constitution Hill with a respiratory illness prior to the festival.

He previously said: ‘It is impossible to identify any reason for all the disappointments and none of these horses have given us any cause for concern. It is very, very disappointing for everybody.’

Jonbon was due to run in the Queen Mother Champion Chase for a reward of £225,080 but had to be take out of contention. 

Nicky Henderson has missed out on almost £1.3million in potential earnings due to ill horses

Nicky Henderson has missed out on almost £1.3million in potential earnings due to ill horses

Shishkin (pictured) and six others have been withdrawn this festival, on top of Constitution Hill having to be pulled out in advance

Shishkin (pictured) and six others have been withdrawn this festival, on top of Constitution Hill having to be pulled out in advance 

Champ was supposed to be part of the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle for £182,877 and First Street was removed from the Coral Cup Handicap Chase, seeing a potential £56,270 vanish. 

Meanwhile, JCB Triumph Hurdle favourite Sir Gino could have won him £76,000 on Friday but will not be running. 

It was the same story for Kingston Pride in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper, who withdrew from the chance to run for £45,560, while for Shanagh Bob did not compete in the £76,000 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle as anticipated.

Added to the withdrawal of Constitution Hill, who could have claimed £262,078 in the Champion Hurdle, all this amounts to a colossal £1,275,403million. 

On Wednesday, Henderson said: ‘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. 

‘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.’

It is a devastating turn of events for Britain’s most successful Festival trainer. 



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