De Boinville set for short break after Cheltenham fall

Nico de Boinville is set for a few days on the sidelines after falling aboard Excello at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.

The Seven Barrows number one was in touch with the leaders aboard Nicky Henderson’s seven-year-old in the Betfair Handicap Chase when coming to grief heavily at the eighth fence.

De Boinville missed his intended rides later on the card, including Lucky Place in the feature Relkeel Hurdle, with Henderson reporting the rider to be sore but well enough to have taken himself home.

Henderson said: “Nico is fine but sore, although I don’t think he’s going to be riding for a few days.

“He’s taken himself home.”

Lucky Place finished third under replacement Paul O’Brien, while De Boinville’s mount in the bumper, Mariole, finished a well-beaten 12th with David Bass deputising.