Leo Powell

The 2010 Hennessy Gold Cup winner Joncol lost an ongoing battle with lymphangitis and was put down on humane grounds on Thursday. The winner of seven races and a point-to-point, he amassed earnings of over £300,000 during his career.

Owned by Kay Browne and bred by her in partnership with John Lenihan, the imposing son of Bob’s Return was trained throughout his career by Paul Nolan and also captured the Grade 1 John Durkan Punchestown Chase.

Despite his size, he won on his debut in a point-to-point as a four-year-old when ridden by Jamie Codd and two months later scored an eight-length win in a bumper at Thurles.

He was sent chasing straight away and again won at the first time of asking at Punchestown. Joncol made only one start over hurdles, finishing second in a novice hurdle as a nine-year-old behind Rule The World. He was placed six times in Grade 1 races, including the Lexus Chase twice.

Describing him as “something special”, Nolan said that the horse was unlucky to suffer from the effects of a small infection in a hind leg that plagued him from the time he was six and that eventually led to his demise.

“He was unlucky to suffer from that problem and he should have won more. He was special and gave us our biggest success in the Hennessy.”

The Brownes have two half-brothers to Joncol - Fine Theatre and Fine Article - in training with Nolan.