De Boinville to keep Pistol Whipped ride at Saratoga despite Henderson exit

Nico de Boinville is set to take a break from the summer jumping circuit by flying to New York next week for a Grade 1 ride on Pistol Whipped.

The eight-year-old, who made his US debut with a fine second in May's , is now in the care of Leslie Young having remained in the US since that outing - his last for Nicky Henderson.

Rated 153 in his pomp, he will still sport the white silks of Anthony Speelman and his son Mark when he runs in Wednesday's $150,000 A P Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase Stakes at Saratoga.

"Pistol Whipped is now trained by Leslie, but that was always the plan," said Mark Speelman. "It's exciting and there are good opportunities for him out there, while it was a good run last time.

"It was between this and another race in a couple of weeks at Saratoga as well, but Leslie favoured this one as it gives us a bit more time to prep for other targets later in the season, which might include the American Grand National."

De Boinville, who rides the Henderson-trained Fugitives Drift at Cartmel on Saturday, has ridden in 14 of his 15 starts under rules.

"Sadly I can't go and nor can Dad, but luckily Nico can," Speelman added. "He knows the horse very well and they get on well. If he's available, he's always going to be offered the ride.

"The race is two miles and a half furlong and I think it will be better for him than three miles, which he ran over last time but was just a tad keen the whole way and didn't really stay.

"We're hoping that letting him go over two miles and a half furlong will be all right. It's a Grade 1 handicap and he has top weight, but that's because he's the best horse, or he is rated that officially. I hope he's got every chance and Leslie reports him to be in good form.

"The conditions the horse prefers [quick ground] occur more frequently in America than in the UK and the prize-money is better."

Having a horse trained in the US is not a new experience for Speelman snr, whose Zoffany - down the field in Teenoso's Derby in 1983 - excelled after his transfer, winning the Hollywood Turf Cup, Sunset Handicap and San Luis Rey Stakes for John Gosden, who was based in California at the time.

"Dad's had a number of horses in training in America on the Flat," Speelman said.

"Zoffany was a good two-year-old over here, but went on to win Grade 1s in the States and was a very good turf horse out there. I think the Hollywood Turf Cup would be Dad's biggest ever winner, while he also had horses with Neil Drysdale out there too."

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