Equinties - Mark, James, Con & Jon

Gm Equinauts

Nico has become an integral cog in the Seven Barrows machine and yet still, punters actually have the audacity to question master trainer Nicky Henderson, thinking they know better by suggesting he gives Nico the boot.

Will those same punters laugh at Willie Mullins when he books Nico?

No, didn’t think so.

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUND UP

MARK AND JAMES UP

Love him or hate him, Nico de Boinville is a brilliant jockey. He is an ultimate horseman who knows how to feel and read his mounts, look after them and get them to do magic things.

He has become an integral cog in the Seven Barrows machine yet punters question Nicky and think they know better by suggesting he gives Nico the boot.

Willie Mullins recognises Nico’s talents, he’s been quick to snap him up now Townend is on the side-lines.

Back to Sevenbarrows. Nicky Henderson will have to do without Nico’s input for the foreseeable. He’s still bedridden, now at home though rather than hospital.

The setback occurred at Plumpton on Monday, having been kicked following his fall on AS THE FELLA SAYS – we watched back the incident when writing this, and blimey, it’s a bit of a nasty one.

The rider has sustained broken ribs and neck injuries following the fall, and this leaves Henderson with a bit of a dilemma for the next few weeks regarding some of his stable’s top horses.

For starters, JONBON in the Grade 1 Celebration Chase. The last time JP McManus’ 10-time Grade 1 winner was without de Boinville, he took the fourth-last fence home with him to Lambourn in the rearranged 2024 Grade 1 Clarence House Chase.

James Bowen rode him that day, and it wasn’t jockey error, in the same way that it wasn’t jockey error when JONBON made his mistake in the 2025 Champion Chase – unfortunately, JONBON is prone to a race-altering mistake around Prestbury Park from time to time.

It’s been announced Mark Walsh will step back up for his run at Sandown on Saturday, and he would seem like the most sensible available option. So while JONBON gets to know Walsh, who’s going to take up steering in CONSITUTION HILL should he go to Punchestown!?

We thought Harry Cobden would be perfect for him, but that was never going to happen.

Instead James Bowen will take the honours. And we know what will happen. James will ride him to an easy victory, and every one will be shouting ‘Nico out’.

We wish Nico a speedy recovery.

DERBY CONTENDER

A SEA THE STARS half-brother to the Group 3-placed AL AABIR, bought for 175,000gns as a yearling, and won a maiden on his second start.

And yet, SEA SCOUT went off 40/1 for yesterday’s Listed Blue Riband Trial at Epsom – seen as a Derby Trial – and won by a head under Harry Davies.

It would have taken a couple of brave pills to chance SEA SCOUT on his first start of the season based on one Lingfield maiden win, but if you did, you were duly rewarded.

We actually thought TIBERIUS THUNDER, despite the drift, was the likely winner with two furlongs to go, but he seemed to lack stamina when it mattered, and he dropped out tamely. Nice horse, but he probably wants a mile.

This allowed three to pass him late, but it’s not as if SEA SCOUT was held up out of the rear and flew home. He raced prominently, answered Davies’ questions when push came to shove, and out-battled TRINITY COLLEGE.

So, what should connections do with a horse like SEA SCOUT? Is he a Derby runner?
In fairness, the Blue Riband Trail isn’t the greatest Derby Trial as recent records show. CRACKSMAN won the race in 2017 before finishing third in the main event, but some of the last few winners didn’t even run in the Derby after the Blue Riband.

SO MI DAR (2016), CROSSED BATON (2018), CAPE OF GOOD HOPE (2019), WIRKO (2021), and EPICTETUS (2023), for example.

Simon Crisford said: "We've always loved him. He's always looked as if he possesses plenty of talent and he'll stay a mile and a half. He's in the Dante and the Derby, so we'll let the dust settle and make a plan. We're happy with that and he's a promising colt for the future.

"He was the outsider but he wasn't that price in our book. He's always a bit sleepy so you can't judge him on what he does in the mornings but we felt he had a nice chance. He's got a proper pedigree for the big one in June, stays the trip and appeared to like the track so there's plenty of positives."

Ah yes, the old “he wasn’t that price in our book” comment. We love a bit of after-timing.
So, the Derby is the plan, even if he does need to prove himself. Fair play – dream big.

READY FOR THE ROODEE

We recently discussed in this newsletter about EAST INDIA DOCK and his new target, the Chester Cup. As expected, he is the 7/1 favourite, but what is interesting is the next two in the market.

One is SIXANDAHALF, Gavin Cromwell’s mare who finished second in the Grade 2 Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and was declared a non-runner ahead of the Grade 1 Honeysuckle Mares Novice Hurdle on the weekend.

She is 10/1, and with her previous exploits on the Flat, she could well be heading here if the ground remains on the nicer side.

The other 10/1 shot is WONDER LEGEND, a winner on All-Weather Championships Finals Day at Newcastle on Friday.

Although there was chat about ROARING LEGEND and PLAGE DE HAVRE pre-race, all the talk post-race revolved around a very impressive James Ferguson-trained winner.

He was good, and his pedigree isn’t half bad either. Well, after his Newcastle win, connections have their eyes on another big staying handicap.

Ferguson said: We have an entry in the Chester Cup that we're going to strongly consider. It's on the cards at the moment but we have to see how he comes out of the Newcastle race, and I need to confirm it with the owner.

"He runs best when he has a bit of a break, so we'll see if there is anything at the end of May, but he's favourite for the Chester Cup for a reason and it would be a wonderful race to win."

The Chester Cup is always a great race, and we’ve already got a couple of horses with this as their target. Eyes on.

RISK ON

15.00 TRALEE GIRL

We’re taking on the smash on Balding’s here, which might be silly given he’s gone off favourite for hi first two runs - some one must like him! But we’re siding with Bells because she carries a feather weight on ground she’ll love and up in trip. Two winning siblings, one trained by Bell (so he knows the family well) and a smart bumper winner for Dan Skelton. Playing the drift at 2/1.

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