Jukebox Fury

Henderson himself has been candid about it: Jukebox Fury was a slow burner, an immature horse that needed time before it started delivering. That's not unusual in jump racing, where horses often take longer to mature than their flat-bred counterparts, but it does mean the wins feel earned rather than expected. The problem is that after Wetherby, a knee issue forced a summer on the sidelines, and the horse will be back later in the season than planned. That's the kind of setback that can knock a horse's confidence — or, occasionally, be the thing that prompts a trainer to switch tactics.

And a switch is coming. Henderson has confirmed Jukebox Fury will now jump fences for the first time, moving up from the smaller hurdles. That's a significant step — fences are bigger and more demanding, and not every horse takes to them — but it's often the making of a horse that hasn't quite found its ceiling yet. Worth noting too: in the three races Jukebox Fury has contested at Class 4, the level just below the top tier, it has yet to win. The two victories came elsewhere. There's clearly more to find, and Henderson clearly believes fences might be where it finds it.

The yard is in tremendous form, having sent out 85 winners already this season, so Jukebox Fury arrives back in a stable firing on all cylinders. It has raced just once in the last day, so it is very much active and in the mix. On normal ground it has won 2 of its 4 races — a 50% record that would make most trainers very happy indeed. Keep an eye on it when conditions are right.