Pulled muscles delay The Jukebox Man’s wind operation

The Jukebox Man’s intended post-Cheltenham Gold Cup wind operation has been delayed after Ben Pauling discovered further issues with his King George hero – but he is still hopeful of a rematch with Gaelic Warrior at the Punchestown Festival.

The pride and joy of Pauling and owner Harry Redknapp faded out of contention in his tilt at the blue riband, with the trainer revealing afterwards that the eight-year-old had made a respiratory noise.

However, plans to have that looked into by Ben Brain have been held up after The Jukebox Man was found to have other issues that needed fixing first.

Speaking at Newbury on Friday, 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, jockey) 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.”

The Jukebox Man was subject of plenty of attention in the build up to Cheltenham given the popularity of his owner and his magnificent win in a vintage King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

The dream may have come “crashing down” as Willie Mullins’ Gaelic Warrior romped away with the prize, but Pauling still retains plenty of faith and he could have one more chapter to come in Ireland in late April.

Pauling 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.”

An outing at Punchestown could also help shape plans for next season in Pauling’s mind.

The trainer added: “There’s very much a temptation to leave him alone and not run again this year, but I’m leaving every option open and what we’re dealing with are not major issues and just bumps in the road.

“If we can get across them and he’s in the form he needs to be in then I would love another crack this season, if nothing more than just to try three miles again and against the best as it might determine how we campaign him next season.”