Nico de Boinville 'definitely won't be riding this week or next' with Nicky Henderson left searching for Jonbon jockey

Nicky Henderson has been left searching for a replacement jockey for Jonbon, and potentially superstar hurdler Constitution Hill, after Nico de Boinville was ruled out of action for the foreseeable following a nasty fall at Plumpton on Monday.

Jonbon could have a significant role to play in the conclusion of the British trainers' championship fight between Dan Skelton and Willie Mullins, but the hot favourite for Saturday's £175,000 bet365 Celebration Chase will definitely be without his usual partner at Sandown.

De Boinville was kicked in the back after the first-flight fall of As The Fella Says in the 2m4½f novice handicap hurdle on the Sussex Champion Chase card. Although he was conscious after the incident, he was taken by ambulance to Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, where he spent the night on Monday for further assessment. He returned home on Tuesday, but is expected to spend a period on the sidelines after sustaining a number of injuries in the heavy fall. 

It now means Henderson will require a replacement for De Boinville, who was due to partner Jonbon, Lucky Place and Bo Zenith at Sandown this weekend. 

Apart from De Boinville and the retired Aidan Coleman, James Bowen is the only other jockey to partner Jonbon under rules, finishing a neck second in last season's rearranged Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham.

Speaking to the Racing Post, Henderson said: "He's at home now and Sam Twiston-Davies has been minding him and brought him back, so he's back with his family which is the most important thing. He's got some broken ribs and his neck has taken a bit of a bash so he's having to sit pretty still.

"It was a nasty fall and thankfully As The Fella Says is okay, but our jockey is not, although hopefully he'll be perfectly all right in the long term."

Jonbon: new jockey required for his run in the Celebration ChaseCredit: Edward Whitaker

As well as missing the chance to ride Jonbon, De Boinville is set to be replaced on Constitution Hill if Henderson's stable star comes through a gallop this week and runs in the Boodles Champion Hurdle at Punchestown on Friday week.

Henderson said: "We're trying to sort things out, we've got Punchestown to sort out as well, but he definitely won't be riding this weekend or next week. After next week it doesn't matter anyway, but the main thing is that he's back and fighting fit for the restart. As long as he's fighting fit that's all that matters.

"Jonbon is ticking over and he's in very good order. Constitution Hill is going to have his gallop on Thursday or Friday, but it's important that Nico is home."

Before his fall De Boinville was declared to ride Uptown Lass in a bumper at Ludlow on Wednesday, but has since been replaced by Twiston-Davies. 

Of Henderson's seven runners on Thursday, Bowen, David Bass and Harry Cobden will ride his five contenders at Warwick, while Paul O'Brien will partner the two Seven Barrows participants at Bangor.

bet365 Celebration Chase (3.00 Sandown, Saturday)
bet365: 4-7 Jonbon, 5 Impaire Et Passe, 11-2 Energumene, 7 Gaelic Warrior, 8 Il Etait Temps, 14 Edwardstone, 16 Captain Guinness, 25 bar.

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