Nico de Boinville is winning fitness battle to ride Jonbon at Ascot on Saturday
NICO DE BOINVILLE is winning his race to be fit to ride Jonbon in Saturday’s Grade 1 BetMGM Clarence House Chase at Ascot - and could be back in action at Market Rasen on Friday.
The 34-year-old has been on the sidelines since suffering a fractured collarbone in a fall at Doncaster on December 29.
But de Boinville was back in the saddle to ride three lots at boss Nicky Henderson’s Seven Barrows stable last Saturday.
And he will make his race-riding return at Market Rasen – he will partner his boss’s pair Jemura and Kutaiba at the Lincolnshire track, which hangs on a 12pm inspection on Thursday – if passed fit at a medical examination on the same day.
Nico de Boinville riding Jonbon over the last to win The Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown Park last month (Getty Images)“He’s doing tests tomorrow and then we will make a decision,” said Henderson.
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“Let’s see how Nico’s examination goes. If he passes that, then he’s fine to ride.”
James Bowen will deputise aboard the JP McManus-owned eight-year-old, set for a hotly anticipated clash with Willie Mullins’ two-mile star El Fabiolo at Ascot, if de Boinville fails to convince doctors of his fitness.
“We’ve been preparing that Nico might not be available, and we’re prepared either way,” added Henderson.
“James has stepped in brilliantly in his absence but Nico has been riding out since last weekend.
“James has got to know this horse very, very well in the last 10 days - I’d actually like them both to ride him!”
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