Clearly, Nico has a few that don’t fancy him on these pages.
I don’t particularly subscribe to the ‘bad jockey’ theories, as I find all jockeys much of a muchness, but anyone crabbing him today is surely missing the bigger picture?
If we accept the fact that this was all about Gold Cup readiness, then surely an assertive-yet-mindful ride was exactly what was needed?
If so, then I’d say NdB has ridden something of a peach today. He’s taken them along at a fair old clip, ridden him into a few when he’s seen a stride, and generally got Champ jumping as well as he ever has. When the horse has put an extra one in at the last, he’s allowed him to pop it, and ridden him out to the line - almost certainly with the next day in mind.
I’ve said here before that I reckon Nico is a ride-to-instruction jockey. By my reckoning, he has probably expedited connections request to the letter today.