Don’t miss Unibet ambassador Nico de Boinville’s latest column as he discusses his Saturday rides
De Boinville talks you through his Saturday rides, Nicky Henderson's Lanzarote chances and provides a brief update on Altior and Might Bite.
"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."
I’M hoping I can Whip everyone into shape at Warwick today.
I’ve chosen to go there for three rides instead of Kempton because I’m really keen on Mr Whipped (3.00) in the Grade 2 novices’ hurdle.
He’s one of our most exciting young hurdlers – a really nice up-and-coming horse with a big future.
He won at Kempton first time out for us and I really liked him when he won at Newbury just before Christmas. The form is rock-solid – it’s really stacking up – and he was giving weight away.
He’s still quite a big baby and he’s one that will want a fence in time but he deserves to take his chance in this grade.
It’s a good race and we’ll know what we’ve got after tomorrow but I think we go there with a really good chance.
Flintham (1.50) is from a family very dear to me. I won races as an amateur on his brother Carruthers and his half-brother Coneygree gave me one of my greatest days when winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
It’s fantastic to have ridden winners on three horses from the same mare.
Flintham is actually an orphan as Plaid Maid died giving birth to him.
He was brought up by a surrogate cob pony and he’s got a bit of fighting spirit to him. It’s given him that toughness as he’s had to fight from the word go.
I won the Pertemps Hurdle on this card on him two years ago and I always thought he would be better over fences.
He ran well in novice chases last year – he was beaten just a short-head in the Grade 2 Reynoldstown at Ascot last season. That means he’s a second-season novice and that can’t be a bad thing.
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He loves very testing, heavy ground. We’ll keep it very simple on him out in front – that’s the way he likes to ridden.
He’s bound to pick up one of these prizes sooner or later – I hope that will be today.
In this year’s Pertemps Hurdle qualifier I’m on Fly Camp (2.25) for the boss.
I didn’t ride him on his seasonal debut at Cheltenham – Aidan Coleman did.
Everyone seemed very happy with him despite finishing quite well beaten. He shaped really well and he’s bound to come on for the run as so many of ours have. I expect to see a different horse tomorrow.
It’s his first time up to this trip but he’s always shaped like a stayer and he won a point-to-point over three miles in his early days. I’d like to think he’ll stay the trip and he won’t mind the ground too much.
I schooled him this week and he seems in good order. If could run into a place we’d be very happy.
Nicky Henderson has two live chances in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton and they’ve both got good claiming jockeys on board.
I’m very interested to see what William Henry can do going right-handed with James Bowen.
I won a bumper up at Ayr on him and he’s a horse I’ve always liked. He’s got a really nice chance.
Diese Des Bieffes has been going the right way all season and I’m sure he’ll run well for Mitchell Bastyan.
I’m happy to report all is well with Altior and Might Bite. It’s hard not to have half-an-eye on Cheltenham even though it’s more than eight weeks away.
The start of the year has been quite quiet for us but I’m sure that won’t last long – hopefully starting today.