Monbeg’s Welsh National run dashed by foot abscess

Monbeg Genius Absent from Coral Welsh National due to Foot Abscess

In an unexpected turn of events, Jonjo O’Neill’s top contender Monbeg Genius has been forced to withdraw from the highly anticipated Coral Welsh National. The talented horse had captured the attention of punters after a remarkable third-place finish in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury.

Leading the market as the ante-post favourite, Monbeg Genius seemed primed for success in the demanding Chepstow marathon. However, his name was noticeably absent among the remaining 22 contenders following news of a foot abscess. O’Neill expressed frustration over the untimely occurrence and acknowledged that it couldn’t have come at a worse time.

“Unfortunately, he won’t be ready in time due to an abscess,” revealed O’Neill. “Although he sustained some cuts at Newbury, they were unrelated and had already healed. It’s just one setback after another.”

The disappointment is evident for both trainer and fans alike as hopes were high for Monbeg Genius’ performance in this prestigious event. Nevertheless, O’Neill remains optimistic about his recovery process: “He’ll be fine eventually; it’s simply unfortunate timing.”

O’Neill did tease potential alternatives on the horizon for Monbeg Genius, suggesting considerations such as competing in either Warwick’s Classic Chase or Lingfield’s Fleur de Lys Chase: “To be honest, my focus right now is getting him back into shape.”

Despite this setback, O’Neill still maintains representation with Iron Bridge likely to feature prominently in the race lineup. The horse also holds an entry for Wetherby’s Rowland Meyrick Chase on Boxing Day but Chepstow has always been the primary objective.

“Barring any unforeseen circumstances, he’ll be heading to Chepstow,” O’Neill confirmed. “I entered him at Wetherby as a precaution due to variable weather conditions, but our main plan has always been Chepstow. Although his last performance wasn’t exceptional, I believe it was a combination of an unsuitable distance on good ground. He’s in good form now; we just needed another proper run before this significant race. Nevertheless, we’ll take our chance.”

Contenders for the Coral Welsh National

The weights for the race feature previous winner Iwilldoit occupying the top position along with strong contenders such as Complete Unknown, The Big Breakaway, The Galloping Bear, Chambard and Autonomous Cloud.

However, Jamie Snowden-trained Super Survivor has emerged as the new 9-2 favourite following Monbeg Genius’ withdrawal from the event. Super Survivor had previously showcased its potential by winning a novice heat during last year’s Welsh National undercard and securing second place in its seasonal debut at Lingfield.

The absence of Monbeg Genius from the Coral Welsh National due to a foot abscess comes as disappointing news for racing enthusiasts who were eagerly anticipating its participation. With alternative options being explored and Iron Bridge stepping up as O’Neill’s representative horse, all eyes will still be on Chepstow come December 27th.