Cheltenham Festival 2017 – Nico de Boinville looking forward to hopefully another successful Festival
NICO DE BOINVILLE has made a career of upsetting the odds.
He surprised many who thought he wasn’t the best man to steer Coneygree to Gold Cup glory two years ago.
Then last year he overturned hot favourite Min in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle aboard Altior.
And just a day later he was on legendary Sprinter Sacre, who rose from the canvas to reclaim his title in the Champion Chase.
All three seemed unlikely, but all three happened.
But the shoe will be on the other foot as 27-year-old De Boinville gets back on board Nicky Henderson’s Altior, one of the shortest-priced horses of the week.
De Boinville was still a conditional when entrusted to ride Coneygree.
Henderson has shown similar faith since the departure of Barry Geraghty to become retained jockey to JP McManus.
And De Boinville admits that trust has shielded him from the critics.
He said: “Were people critical of me before Coneygree? Yes they were.
“But I was only just out of my claim and I suppose some of them had every right to be critical.
“There are an awful lot of armchair jockeys, but you have to accept that is part of the game. If you can’t take criticism, it’s not worth doing it.
“I try to stay off social media. I don’t really partake in any of that.
“Life is too short to be spending all your days staring at a computer screen.
“There are too many other important and interesting things to be doing.
“You just have to try to enjoy life for what it is.
“There are only a few people’s opinions I really respect and those are the ones that count for me.
“It’s great to have the support of someone like Nicky Henderson, that’s what matters.
“Cheltenham last year was a dream.
“For Altior and Sprinter Sacre to deliver was brilliant. I didn’t feel under too much pressure anyway, to be honest.
“I knew I was going to be on good horses and that is why you do the job.
Riding at the Festival will be especially sweet for De Boinville, who spent two and a half months on the sidelines over the winter with a broken arm, missing three wins on Altior.
He said: “It was tough being on the outside looking in, but you try to stay positive.
Cheltenham Tips: Naps from Matt Chapman, Templegate, Sam Twiston-Davies and Jon Francombe
- Sam Twiston-Davies: Foxhunters Steeple Chase - Wonderful Charm
- Matt Chapman: Ryanair Chase - Un de Sceaux
- John Francome: JCB Triumph Hurdle - Defi Du Seuil
- Templegate: Gold Cup - Native River
“It’s about concentrating on getting as back as quickly as you can, while also making sure the injury is properly healed and you are ready to go.
“I was operated on at hospital on the Sunday night and by the Monday I was taking calls from Oaksey House to get me back on track.
The calls have come thick and fast since.
A win at the Festival would be the perfect answer.