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High-class stayer chaser found to have “pulled his bicep and pectoral” muscles.
Ben Pauling has revealed that The Jukebox Man has pulled both his bicep and pectoral muscles following his effort in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Harry Redknapp's King George hero looked to be travelling sweetly throughout in the Gold Cup but as Gaelic Warrior powered away up the hill, The Jukebox Man faded tamely out of contention.
Rider Ben Jones reported that The Jukebox Man made a respiratory noise coming down the hill, but his planned post Cheltenham Festival wind-op will now be delayed.
Pauling said: "He was OK the day after the Gold Cup but then was noticeably off on his near fore and basically the chiropractors and massage team have been in, and he has pulled his bicep and his pectoral pretty badly.
"Ben (Jones) got off him and actually said he hung and lugged a little left, so I have no idea where that has come from because the day before he was spot on.
"Whether he has got cast in his box, I don't know, but when you put that with the fact we think he wants his soft palate tightening it was amazing he went as far as he did in the Gold Cup.
"Because of this we didn't want to gallop him on Ben Brain's gallop with an overground scope this week, so have put that back to next week."
Should The Jukebox Man recover sufficiently in time then Ben Pauling would remain keen to take on Gaelic Warrior in his back yard, with a trip to Punchestown by no means ruled out.
He added: "The Gold Cup was an amazing race and Gaelic Warrior was fabulous; I don't think any horse would have beaten him on that day. But The Jukebox Man is fine, his legs are good, the joints are good and we just have a few other things to deal with.
"We still have time if he is right to go to Punchestown, but in a nutshell the dream was alive for a long way at Cheltenham and then came crashing down.
"He's still got the ability we always thought and if he's got as far as he did in the Gold Cup with everything we think he had going on, then that is natural talent and a lot of heart.
"I'll want to make sure he is A1 before we go again as I don't want to hurt a horse that tries that hard for you by putting them into too many battles when they are not fully ready to perform.
"He's eight and he has a lot ahead of him and the issue we picked up last year with the operation he had to have, that has been good and a big tick in the box because that is the one you didn't want to see rear it's head again. So, fingers crossed we can get him back."