Don’t miss Unibet ambassador Nico de Boinville’s latest column as he discusses weighing room pranks and his Saturday ride

“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.”

WE all like a wind-up in the weighing room and we so nearly pulled off a great one at Newbury last weekend.

James Bowen was having his first ride for the Queen on Sunshade in the mares’ final and he came up and asked Jerry McGrath and I what he had to do when he went into the paddock.

The Queen obviously wasn’t there but we were telling him he had to go in and bow to whoever was there and, if there was a lady present, to kiss their hand.

He wasn’t at all sure. He was asking everyone in the weighing room – it was frying his head all morning.

Noel Fehily was playing along with it and Dickie Johnson was in on it as well.

James has only just turned 17 so isn’t the most worldly-wise – a proper gullible teenager. To be fair when I was his age I was still at boarding school getting into all sorts of trouble. He’s at Seven Barrows which is very similar in many ways!

He was definitely on the brink of falling for it. Even going out he was still questioning me.

He’s delighted with himself that he didn’t fall for it. I suppose he thinks he’s not quite as naïve as he was beforehand.

While James is one of the newest members of the weighing room we had a surprise party for three retiring jockeys on Thursday night.

James Banks, Liam Treadwell and Ryan Hatch have all called it a day for differing reasons and it was nice to give them a good send-off.

It was in the 21 Club in Cheltenham and there was a lot of people there. It was great fun – everyone made a real effort. Even some of the northern boys like Henry Brooke and Craig Nichol came down.

I couldn’t stay into the depths of the night as I had to be up nice and early to ride three lots before the Lambourn Open Day yesterday.

It was a crying shame the awful weather meant only Nicky Henderson was able to open his yard and that says a lot about the guv’nor.

He wanted to keep the show on the road so it was great to see hundreds of people turn up at Seven Barrows to see Altior, Buveur D’Air, Might Bite and the rest of our stars. It was packed out.

Even AP McCoy made an appearance.

I’ll be up early again this morning as I’m off to Carlisle to ride Ballycrystal (2.15) for Brian Ellison.

It’s always good to ride for Brian – he’s a very good trainer.

Carlisle wouldn’t be a track I frequent too often but it’s nice to ride.

I’ve watched a couple of Ballycrystal’s races and he’s just been hitting the crossbar. It’s about time he won.

The ground is a bit better up there – we’ve been underwater down in Lambourn so I’ll be hoping I can dry out a bit as well.