Nico de Boinville sustained a broken collarbone last month and had made a return to riding this week; he will miss the key ride on Jonbon in the Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham on Saturday
Thursday 25 January 2024 10:49, UK
Nico de Boinville will miss Friday's action at Sandown and the plum ride on Jonbon at Cheltenham on Saturday to give himself more time to fully recover from a broken collarbone he suffered in a fall at Doncaster last month.
The leading jockey returned from nearly a month on the sidelines at Lingfield last Sunday and has since taken up a total of 11 rides, including a winner at Warwick on Monday.
However, having suffered a narrow defeat aboard 11-8 favourite Ilfu Un Mome at Chepstow on Wednesday - his only ride on the card - De Boinville has made the difficult decision to withdraw from the upcoming action, meaning James Bowen will take over aboard Jonbon in Saturday's Clarence House Chase.
"Nico was sore after yesterday, so he won't be riding this weekend," said De Boinville's agent Sam Stronge.
"We'll just take it day by day and see how it is next week. It's unfortunate, we obviously tried to do our best as quickly as we could, and after riding for a couple of days he obviously wasn't quite right.
"The sensible thing to do when you've got big rides like that (Jonbon) is to not let everybody down. It's a very difficult decision, but we'll take it day by day and hopefully he'll be back next week."
In De Boinville's absence, the ride on Jonbon in Saturday's rescheduled My Pension Expert Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham will go to Bowen, often the deputy for trainer Nicky Henderson.
"I'm really lucky to get on him and I can't wait to ride him. Fingers crossed, he can get the job done," said the jockey.
"I was thinking I might get on him last weekend, but Nico got back and then it was called off.
"He is the best horse in the race and odds-on shots are the ones you want to be riding. You just need the right horse to ride in these Grade One races and hopefully I can get the job done, but it is also up to him as well.
"I think it gives you great confidence when the owner and trainer are willing to put you on a horse like Jonbon. If they are happy enough for you to ride, that is what gives you the most confidence going out there."
Supreme contender Jeriko Du Reponet will line up at Doncaster in the Rossington Main Novices' Hurdle, with Mark Walsh travelling across from Ireland to ride the Nicky Henderson-trained runner.
Also on the card, Willie Mullins sends mares Gala Marceau and Ashroe Diamond for the SBK Yorkshire Rose Mares' Hurdle.
The former won a French Grade One last season with Danny Mullins keeping the ride, whilst Ashroe Diamong took a Fairyhouse Grade One last Easter.
