Although far better known as a trainer, Nigel Anthony Twiston-Davies began his racing life as an amateur rider. He joined Richard Head as an amateur jockey and assistant trainer straight from school in the summer of 1977 and scored his first success with only his second ride over hurdles. He brought 10/1 shot Emperor's Gift (owned by his father) to lead at the last hurdle and beat Spring Fashion by a length and a half in the final leg of the Rabbit Novices Hurdle. The date; Monday January 19 1976. Nigel was just 18.
His name had first appeared on a racecard a couple of weeks earlier on Monday December 29 1975 when, at Leicester, he rode the same horse in Division One of the Pytchley Hurdle.
Following Richard Head, Nigel also spent time with trainers Fred Rimmel, David Nicholson and Kim Bailey.
Altogether he rode 17 winners over the jumps, plus 17 more point-to-point. Among Nigel's point-to-point contemporaries was Peter Scudamore, a friend from Pony Club days. Nigel was usually to be seen during the season walking round in plaster with teeth missing and black eyes as a result of riding horses which 'had never seen a fence before'. Peter and Nigel became great friends; Nigel was best man when Peter married on May 29 1980 at Belmont Abbey.
Born on May 16, 1957, Nigel was the son of William Anthony Twiston-Davies and Rosemary Archdale. His first marriage, to Sarah Hamilton-Russell, ended in divorce in 1987. He remarried in March the following year. Catherine Farey gave him two children, Sam (born 15 October 1992) and William (born 1 December 1994).
An accomplished horsewoman, Cathy rode Master Muck, 4/1, to victory at Kelso on Wednesday. April 27, 1988. In 1995, she owned Freddie Muck which, trained by Nigel and ridden by David Bridgewater, ran at the 1995 Cheltenham Festival.
In 1981, Emperor's Gift, having won eight times for Nigel, produced her first foal, a filly by Air Trooper. Nigel named her Mrs Muck and Peter Scudamore's wife, Marilyn, rode her out each morning.
At this time, Nigel's fortunes and finance were often dependant on the success of Mrs Muck and its journey to the racecourse is worth recalling. In the horse box Mrs Muck would be accompanied by another horse as travelling companion. Up front sat Nigel, Cathy, Marilyn, Simon Sherwood's wife Lucy, Stanley the collie, and the ubiquitous supply of gin and tonic which followed the nervous Nigel everywhere.
Mrs Muck, one of only eight foals to survive a virus which swept the stud where she was
born, turned out to be a brilliant, mud loving mare which Peter rode to victory in, among others, the Keith Prowse Long Distance Hurdle. So attached to the horse were Peter and Marilyn that they named their Naunton cottage after her.
Mrs Muck was a good racehorse, but not a lucky one. She was never right during the 1988 season, having four different viruses; then, in February 1991, she broke a leg and underwent a four-hour operation.
In the summer of 1989, Nigel - whose first love was farming but which was not proving profitable at this time - went into business with Peter, forming a new Grange Hill Partnership. It was also this year that, spurred on by the success of Mrs Muck, Nigel decided to apply for a full trainer's licence. This enabled him to take in other people's horses thus building up his Naunton stable.
So began a memorable career. Nigel had his first four-timer on Saturday October 5 1991 when Tipping Tim, Gulsha, Captain Dibble and Grange Brake all won at Uttoxeter. Yet his greatest training achievements came at Aintree with National winners Earth Summit (1998) and Bindaree (2002).
Then, on Friday, 18 March, 2011, he sent out Imperial Commander to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
His elder son, Sam, had his first ride on a racecourse when steering On Spec into eighth place behind I'm The Decider at Ludlow on Thursday, 15 January 2009, but did not have to wait too long for his first winner. This came just four weeks later on 18 February, also at Ludlow. Sam, in his fourth race, rode Baby Run - who was to play a huge role in Sam and Willie's early careers - to victory.
Sam's climb to the top is reflected by his seasonal winners; 2009 - 15 winners, 2010 - 59, 2011 - 71 and, in 2012, 87.
One of Sam's best days racing came on December 8 2012 when, at Aintree, he rode a memorable treble on the ill-fated Little Josh, Hello Bud and Master Of The Sea.
Sam enjoyed another fantastic day when winning the Christie's Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham on March 19 2010.
On Wednesday, 11 March, 2015, Sam's career took a mighty leap forward when, riding as stable jockey for Paul Nichols, he landed a double at the Cheltenham Festival with Aux Ptits Soins (Coral Cup) and Dodging Bullets (Queen Mother Champion Chase).
The best advice Sam ever received came, he said, from his best friend and fellow jockey Aidan Coleman. Aidan told Sam never to get worked up as at the end of the day it is just galloping horses around a field.
Sam, away from the racecourse, enjoys 'movies with popcorn' and 'a meal out with the lads'.
Many good judges see Sam as a future Champion Jockey.
Nigel's younger son, Willie, initially followed the path trod by Sam. Willie's first winner also came on Baby Run (Wetherby, 5 February 2011). Like Sam, it was also his fourth public appearance on a racecourse.
His worst day (injuries aside) came on 18 March 2011. Riding Baby Run in the Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham, he was hoping to emulate Sam's win a year earlier. Unfortunately, Baby Run pitched badly at the second last, throwing Willie over his head. Well clear at the time, certain victory had been snatched away.
Amends were made that April at Aintree. Made the 3/1 favourite, Willie had Baby Run (left) prominently placed throughout in the John Smith's Foxhunter Chase. On the run-in Willie was in front, being strongly challenged by top Irish amateur P. W. Mullins on Boxer Georg.Seldom has such determination been shown as Willie, head down, rode as if for his life.
Baby Run held on to win by three-quarters of a length.
Willie's progress was halted by a couple of freak racing accidents: his first came when riding Battlecry at Straford on April 17, 2011. The horse slipped up on a bend, breaking Willie's leg.
Flat jockey Richard Hughes recommended Willie to trainer Richard Hannon and the young jockey switched codes. His first ride for the stable, Beedee on 23 May 2012, won at 10/1. It was a brilliant start.
Willie lost his claim on Saturday, June 28, 2014, when riding Kashgar to victory for B. J. Llewellyn at Chester.
Sam and Willie are both set for successful and rewarding careers.