JP McManus’s retained rider in Ireland will take over in Saturday’s Celebration Chase at Sandown after a fall at Plumpton ruled de Boinville out of action for the meeting as well as the Punchestown Festival
Nicky Henderson has announced Mark Walsh will ride Jonbon for the first time in Saturday’s bet365 Celebration Chase at Sandown after stable jockey Nico de Boinville was ruled out following a fall at Plumpton.
De Boinville was taken to Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton after a nasty fall from 3-1 favourite As The Fella Says at the first flight of a handicap hurdle on Easter Monday. He suffered broken ribs and neck injuries and has since returned home to continue his recovery but will not ride this weekend nor at the Punchestown Festival, where Constitution Hill could run.
With his stable jockey Nico de Boinville out of action, Henderson has had to make alternative riding arrangements for his two stable stars.
Speaking in his Unibet blog, he said: “Firstly I want to say thank you to everyone for their thoughts and kind messages following Nico’s fall, which we have passed onto him. He is now back at home and will need to rest. We don’t know exactly when he’ll be back riding but we wish him a speedy recovery.
“In the meantime we do have to make riding plans for our horses and Mark Walsh will come over to Sandown Park on Saturday to ride Jonbon.”
Having gone unbeaten in his first 10 career starts, Constitution Hill has suffered successive falls in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and the Aintree Hurdle.
Henderson has left open the option of a first trip to Ireland for the Punchestown Champion Hurdle, but a final decision on his participation has yet to be made.
He added: “Constitution Hill has an important gallop on Friday and he will be partnered by James Bowen. If that goes well they will school together over the weekend and if we get a double green light so to speak, then we can all head over to Punchestown. Everything hinges on how this weekend goes.”
The trainer could also send his star juvenile Lulamba to Ireland’s end-of-season meeting, saying: “Lulamba is in great form and could also head over. It’s a brave shout but I’m very happy with him and James would also take the ride if we line up.”
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