With 104 graded winners under National Hunt rules, Nico de Boinville needs little introduction. He’s partnered some of the modern greats: Sprinter Sacre, Altior, Jonbon, Shishkin, and Might Bite – and since April, an injury has kept him on the sidelines. Now, after getting the all-clear from Oaksey House, he’s raring to go for the new National Hunt season.
A fall at Plumpton’s high-value meeting in April left Nico with a fractured C7 and compression fractures to his T6 and T3 vertebrae. “It all happened rather quick, really, and the next thing I knew I was lying on the far side of the hurdle and just feeling as if things weren’t quite right,” Nico explained.
“I was very lucky – they took me straight down to Brighton. Dr Riz and Lucy, the main doctors at Plumpton, are very well-connected at Brighton Hospital, so you just get whisked through and get the best possible care.”
He was supported by friends too. “Luckily, all the lads at Plumpton, Harry Skelton and Tristan Durrell, brought my car home, and Sam Twiston actually spent the entire night sitting next to me. Once I had all the scans and the all-clear, Sam drove me home. The NHS was eye-opening; it was rammed, people were sitting in corridors, but the staff were incredible.”
Nico had to wait a few months before starting rehabilitation with the Injured Jockeys Fund. “Dr Jerry Hill sent me to a specialist consultant who regularly helps jockeys. The consultant made sure I knew not to muck about with it – you can’t mess about with these things. Once I was given the all-clear to start moving, I was at Oaksey House. Rob, and Connor, all the physios got me going again.”
He admits the first few months were tough: “You go from being an absolute specimen in full work to feeling like a blob. It wasn’t easy getting back into it; the first week is always the hardest.”
Nico was keen to thank the Injured Jockeys Fund team: “I would just like to say how incredibly grateful I am to the IJF, everyone who raises money for the charity, and all the team at Oaksey House. They look after us in the broadest sense and without them, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do. Oaksey House has a very egalitarian atmosphere; everyone gets on with everyone, mucks in, and works on similar programmes. It’s such a friendly, motivated group, dedicated to getting you back on your feet, no matter your injury. Even seeing some of the older beneficiaries is inspiring – hearing their stories and seeing how they’re doing really shows the impact of the IJF. They support such a wide range of people in the racing and equestrian industries and play a pivotal role in our sport altogether.”
For a top sportsman like Nico, it might be expected that he’s motivated by winning races, but his priorities were closer to home: “The main thing that motivated me was just to get back to some sort of health and strength. It makes you very grateful to move your legs and pick up the kids. Then, obviously, to get back on a horse, only then do you think about the racing side of things.”
And when asked about returning to the saddle, he’s relaxed: “Not particularly. The Guvnor [Nicky Henderson] and his wife Sophie were very good through the summer, keeping me abreast of what was going on. Luckily, I’ve got ponies and horses at home, so I could break one in and see if I was okay getting on – baby steps to start with. And then, when you’re away, you’re away.”
The injury brought an end to a challenging season, which saw Constitution Hill fall at Cheltenham and Aintree, and Sir Gino face a near life-threatening infection. Yet Nico stays positive: “Yes, there were ups and downs, but also some terrific days. I can’t complain – I came away with five Grade Ones. Jonbon really saved the season for me; he was fantastic all the way through.” Fans will also see Nico in the second series of ITV’s Champions: Full Gallop, which captured last season’s highs and lows. Looking ahead, Nico is excited: “All those big names – Constitution Hill, Jonbon, and Sir Gino – I’d love to see them all back to full fitness. The competition is strong – Dan Skelton, Olly Murphy, and other top yards are turning into powerhouses – but there’s plenty of excitement and enthusiasm for the season. My philosophy is putting the yard first; if the horses do their best, success follows.”
With the support of friends, family, and the Injured Jockeys Fund, Nico is ready to return, motivated by health, family, and racing alike: “They look after us in the broadest sense. Without them, the sport would be very different. I’m feeling positive and really looking forward to getting going again.”