Don’t miss Unibet ambassador Nico de Boinville’s latest column as he discusses his Saturday rides and Altior’s comeback
Nico de Boinville talks about his Saturday rides at Ascot, Altior's terrific comeback at Newbury last weekend and another Coneygree setback.
"Read the thoughts of four-time Champion Trainer Nicky Henderson and stable jockey Nico de Boinville exclusively at Unibet each week throughout the Jump Season. Unibet are an award-winning sports betting and casino operator with over 16 million customers, and proud sponsors of the Unibet Champion Hurdle, The Irish Gold Cup and betting partner of the Investec Derby."
THERE’s been lots of Grand National talk after the weights were revealed earlier in the week.
Today I’ll get to put one of our Aintree hopes through his paces when I ride Gold Present (2.25) at Ascot.
If he wins the handicapper won’t be able to put him up from the 11st he gave him for the National and I’m expecting him to run very well.
He’s won twice this season – the only two times I’ve ridden him – and hopefully he can keep improving.
It looks like the race has cut up quite nicely. I’m hoping the ground won’t be too bad as he probably prefers it better but he’s always shaped as if he would handle softer going.
When he won at Ascot just before Christmas he had some good form in behind him with the likes of Frodon.
Aintree is the main target and this is a nice stepping stone towards that.
I think he would stay the National distance - he’s shaped that way this year. He was jumping around very nicely until he was brought down in the Topham at the Canal Turn last year as well.
The guv’nor Nicky Henderson has never won a National of any description – Welsh, Scottish, Northumberland, Aintree or any of them. It’s about time that changed.
My other ride at Ascot today is Stowaway Magic (3.00). He’s reverting back to hurdles from having a stint over fences and he’s a nice horse.
He’s come second both times over fences but he was beaten by good horses so he was slightly up against it. Back over hurdles I’m sure it will see him in a better light. This will give us a ‘heads up’ about where he might go at Cheltenham.
I’m hoping for a nice confidence-boosting run – he’s got a solid each-way chance.
The boss has got Top Notch in the Ascot Chase and I’m looking forward to seeing him. He’s a horse everyone in the yard likes.
I rode him to win a Grade 2 on him at Ascot at the start of the year so we know he handles the track and likes the fences. He’s only small but he’s got a big heart.
It looks a great race with Cue Card and Frodon in there. It will also be interesting to see how Waiting Patiently gets on.
If today goes as well as last Saturday I’ll be more than happy.
We were all delighted with Altior on his comeback – it couldn’t have gone any better really.
It panned out exactly as we hoped it would. He’s come out of it bouncing so I don’t think he had too much of a hard race.
We were on a hiding to nothing really – especially on ground as heavy as it was – so when it goes to plan you count your blessings. It was a big relief.
He’s been just hacking around having a nice time this week and is back cantering now.
It’s gutting for everyone – especially the Bradstocks - that Coneygree is out for the season.
We have to be grateful they decided to go to the Gold Cup when they did. Remember he was still a novice so it was a brave decision to make.
It was a fantastic training performance that year to get a horse so fragile and prone to injury to have a clean run at it.
We’re all hoping we can have one last hurrah at some point.