NICO DE BOINVILLE caught both ITV and fans by surprise with a dig at Willie Mullins.
The English jockey had just come second in the JCB Triumph Hurdle which was won by the Mullins-trained 100/1 outsider Poniros.
The beaten jockeys from the JCB Triumph Hurdle speak to Matt 🎤#ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival | @MCYeeehaaa pic.twitter.com/2WQYRrCm5D
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 14, 2025
The four-year-old was one of 11 runners in the race under Mullins’ umbrella, three of which pulled up before the finish.
And De Boinville – who rode runner-up Lulamba – made light of this fact during his post-race interview with ITV’s Matt Chapman.
He said: “Look, he’s a really nice horse going forward to next season.
“He’s run a fantastic race…fair play to Willie [Mullins] for putting 11 in.”
It was a remark that was picked up on by fans on social media, with the reaction being largely mixed.
One said: “He’s right though. Nicholls had 14 runners in total at the Featival [sic].
“British owners need the fingers pointing at on why they’re deserting British racing.”
A second commented: “People will call this salty but he’s spot on really, all this fawning over Mullins when all he’s done is stick 11 horses into a race and hope for the best.
“It’s just a numbers game and I didn’t have Lulamba either.”
A third posted: “I think he’s saying what a lot of us are thinking. 11 runners from the same trainer in a field of 17 is a bit ridiculous…”
A fourth said: “Love Mullins but he’s spot on here ridiculous to have 11 runners in a race at a big fez”
On the flip side, some insisted that Mullins had every right to enter as many runners as he is able.
One said: “Should have asked Nico how he has missed yet another stride this week, 2 out was a jockey mistake AGAIN.
“Not mentioned because poor performance in racing is just accepted. Odd.”
A second posted: “11 runners in a race ridiculous?
“Ridiculous would be telling an owner who paid £200,000 on a horse, you can’t run as I have other horses running.”
A third said: “People crabbing mullins having 11 in the race are dumb. Would be less than 10 runners in the field. 5 english runners is all.”
And a fourth quipped: “Poor Nico – he must wake up with Willie Mullins nightmares all night every night”
