Day two of the Cheltenham Festival is upon us and so is news of the mushrooming health issues engulfing Nicky Henderson’s stable. 

Jonbon, who had been set to run in this afternoon’s Queen Mother Champion Chase, has been withdrawn, as has leading Gold Cup hope Shishkin. They are the biggest names among three Henderson-trained runners to have been withdrawn from today’s action, leaving the trainer with just three runners this afternoon.

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.

“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.”