Twiston-Davies and Nicholls split
Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies and trainer Paul Nicholls have split, meaning the number one jockey in the Nicholls-yard heads out the door.
Twiston-Davies will now become a freelance jockey, receiving offers from all manner of trainers.
Recent Grade One winner Harry Cobden will take over duties as the stable’s chief jockey, and Bryony Frost is said to be taking on an enhanced role as well.
Speaking to the Racing Post, Nicholls said:
Harry will become our number one as Sam is going freelance. I expect Sam to have as many rides and winners for me over the next 12 months as he did during the last season.
Harry has been with us since the age of 16. A lot of my owners have wanted to use him. We’ve lots of good jockeys here, such as Harry, Bryony Frost and Sean Bowen and it’s hard to keep everybody happy.
The imperious Nicholls was adamant it had been no ill-tempered split, however:
Sam can ride for everyone now. There has been no falling out. We’re still all mates, it’s just a restructuring on both sides.
Twiston-Davies iterated that the decision to go solo was his own:
It’s my decision to go freelance and now that I’ve made it I am going to give it everything I’ve got. I’m not going to be number one to Paul any more, but he’s still going to give me plenty of rides.
I’ve been massively lucky in my career to date. I’m still relatively young and I still want to progress.