What Horses Is Nico De Boinville Riding At Cheltenham Day 1?
Nicky Henderson’s leading stable jockey, Nico de Boinville, is back for this year’s Cheltenham aiming to become a two-time Champion Jockey. He is one of the leading jockeys in the world right now, and has three rides on Day 1. Read on to find out which horses Nico de Boinville is riding on Day 1 of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival.
Nico De Boinville With Three Rides On Cheltenham Day 1
Nico de Boinville was crowned the Champion Jockey of the Year five years ago for his brilliant performance at the 2018 Cheltenham Festival. He won three races, including a second and third place finish too. This year, he will be hoping to replicate that form with a stellar showing at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival.
On Day 1, Nico de Boinville has three rides on Tuesday 14th March. These rides include Constitution Hill, who is the overriding favourite to win the Champion Hurdle. The Nicky Henderson horse has won his last five races in a row, including a win at Cheltenham last year in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
The Gold Cup winner with Coneygree also has two more rides on day one along with Constitution Hill.
De Boinville rides the favourite in the Mares’ Hurdle at 4.10pm in the form of Marie’s Rock. The Irish mare won this race 12 months ago, and is aiming to claim back-to-back Mares’ Hurdle triumphs.
The English jockey also rides a huge outsider in Arclight in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle. The Nicky Henderson trained 4-year-old has won two of her last three races and could be a great shout as a huge outsider in the penultimate race.
De Boinville is also priced at 6/1 as one of the favourites with leading bookmaker Betfair to be the 2023 Cheltenham Festival Champion Jockey.
What Horses Is Nico De Boinville Riding On Day 1 Of The 2023 Cheltenham Festival?
Tuesday 14th March 2023
CONSTITUTION HILL (Champion Hurdle – 15.30): @ 4/11 with Betfair
In terms of Cheltenham odds, Constitution Hill is the shortest priced horse running on Day 1 of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival. The 6-year-old is the 4/11 betting favourite to triumph in the Champion Hurdle. The British gelding has a perfect 5/5 record over hurdles, including a mightily impressive win here last year in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
Constitution Hill won by a whopping 22 lengths 12 months ago in that race, hence why he is such an overriding favourite here. In fact, Constitution Hill could even go off as the shortest priced horse ever in the Champion Hurdle.
This is by far and away Nico de Boinville’s biggest chance on Day 1. Horse racing fans fully expect Constitution Hill to win emphatically here.
MARIE’S ROCK (Mares’ Hurdle – 16.10): @ 3/1 with Betfair
Marie’s Rock goes into the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle as the 3/1 favourite to win it for the second year running. The Irish gelding is a superstar horse, winning this race 12 months ago in impressive fashion.
She has won her last four races in the spin and is now ahead of Honeysuckle in the betting, Of course, trainer Henry de Bromhead and jockey Rachael Blackmore will be confident of a dream ending for Honeysuckle with her fourth Cheltenham Festival win here in the Mares’ Hurdle,. but de Boinville, Henderson and Marie’s Rock will have other ideas.
Really strong chance here for de Boinville who will be confident of back-to-back wins in this race with Marie’s Rock.
ARCLIGHT (Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle – 16.50): @ 40/1 with Betfair
Arclight is priced at a huge 40/1 to win the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle on Tuesday afternoon. The 4-year-old filly is in strong form, winning two of her last three starts and finishing in second in the other.
She is up against it today but could be a great each-way shout if she can keep up with the likes of Tekao, Byker and Bad. The 2 1/2 mile trip should suit her well – a distance she is used to covering. A huge outsider for Nico de Boinville but still a chance of a big run.
