Nico de Boinville is poised to make his return from a damaged collar bone simply in time to trip Jonbon in Saturday’s Clarence Home Chase at Ascot.
The rider was injured in a fall at Doncaster on December 29 however ought to he go the physician on Thursday, De Boinville will make his comeback on two mounts for his boss, Nicky Henderson, at Market Rasen on Friday, earlier than making the possible journey to Ascot on Saturday.
Nevertheless, not solely does De Boinville have to get medical permission to renew driving, he additionally wants the assembly to go a precautionary inspection at midday on Thursday as a result of present chilly spell.
De Boinville does seem to have gained his race towards time to take the plum mount on Jonbon and would additionally clearly be in pole place to trip ought to the assembly be moved to Cheltenham the next week, as occurred final yr.
The state of affairs neatly sums up the lifetime of a Nationwide Hunt jockey as De Boinville has solely taken the reins on Jonbon this season as common companion Aidan Coleman stays sidelined himself.
Henderson mentioned: “He is obtained to go his medical tomorrow and if he passes that then he is advantageous to trip.
“Clearly James (Bowen) has stepped up brilliantly in his absence however Nico has been driving out since final weekend.
“Nico knows them all inside out but James is in here every day as well, he knows them all too.”
De Boinville is scheduled to trip Jemura within the Learn Nicky Henderson’s Unique Unibet Weblog Handicap Hurdle and Kutaiba within the Listed Unibet 3 Uniboosts A Day Alan Swinbank Mares’ Commonplace Open NH Flat Race.
Waiting for Ascot, Henderson mentioned: “It’s such a pain with the weather as everyone is really looking forward to it. We hope it will be all right.
“I do not see why we would not go to Cheltenham subsequent week if that’s what occurs. I’ve seen they’ve mentioned El Fabiolo in all probability will not journey twice, however it’s pointless me speculating what they may or may not do.
“All I know is we are very happy with Jonbon, we couldn’t be happier and we were really looking forward to the race, I’m sure a lot of people were, and hopefully it will still take place with both of them running.
“We’ve not been held up by the climate, the one factor we won’t do is faculty on grass however we have got an all-weather education strip as properly and an indoor faculty, so in any other case every little thing is okay.
“I’m trying to be an optimist, but I’m finding it quite hard.”