Will Biddick
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Born on 27 December 1986, Cornishman and leading amateur jockey Will Biddick’s career spanned 23 years and saw him ride some of the best horses for many of the top point-to-point trainers, mainly based in the Wessex and Devon and Cornwall areas.
He rode his first winner, Let's Fly, at Axe Vale in April 2004.
Moving to Venetia Williams, he lodged with fellow riders, Sam Thomas and the late Liam Treadwell, and explained, “they took me under their wing and taught me so much. It was like me being a young horse schooling with older ones, I couldn’t help but improve.”
Will married showjumper Harriet Nuttall
Will & Caid Du Berlais won the Punchestown Champion Hunters' Chase a second time on May 3, 2019, this time even more emphatically, by 28 lengths.
Result
Caid Du Berlais (FR) — Winner ( Mr Will Biddick, trainer Mrs R Loxton)
Burning Ambition (IRE) — 28 lengths (jockey Mr R James, trainer Pierce Power)
Fenno's Storm (jockey Mr D L Queally, trainer D Queally) — 1½ lengths
Macs Legend — 19 lengths (jockey Mr E P O'Brien, trainer G Kelleher)
Will on Caid Du Berlais, a standout hunter chaser, on which he won consecutive Punchestown Champion Hunters' Chase (when it was known as the Star Best For Racing Coverage Champion Hunters Chase) in 2018 & 2019. Caid Du Berlais, a bay gelding born in 2009, was originally trained by Sam Loxton. He achieved a peak official rating (OR) of 152 during his prime in graded chases.
The result of Will's first win in the Punchestown Champion Hunters' Chase (officially the Star Best For Racing Coverage Champion Hunters Chase)
(27 April 2018)
Distance: 3m 120yds (about 3m½f)
Going: Soft. Runners: 13. Winning time: 6m 46.9s
Winner: Caid Du Berlais (9yo, 11-11 or 12-0, SP 9/2, ridden by Mr William Biddick) — won by 21 lengths in dominant fashion.
Result
Caid Du Berlais (FR) — Winner (trained Mrs R Loxton, owned Donlon, Doyle, MacDonald & C Barber)
Timewaitsfornoone (IRE) — 21 lengths (jockey Mr M J O'Hare, trainer A Fleming)
On The Fringe (IRE) — head (jockey Ms N Carberry, trainer E Bolger)
Sizing Coal (IRE) — 24 lengths (jockey Mr B O'Neill, trainer J T R Dreaper)
Jimmy The Jetplane (IRE) — 27 lengths (jockey Mr J Jackson-Stops, trainer Francesca Nimmo)
On Thursday, 13 April, 2023, Will won the Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase (commonly known as the Aintree Foxhunters') on Famous Cermont (above). Trained by Chris Barber, It was his first (and only) win in the race after multiple previous attempts, including a second place in 2015 on Pacha Du Polder. Famous Clermont won comfortably (never off the bridle), beating Bennys King (2nd) and Lough Derg Spirit (3rd) among 27 runners.
Will's only victory at the Cheltenham Festival as a rider came on March 12 2009. Then a conditional jockey, he rode 33-1 outsider Something Else to victory in the Freddie Williams Festival Plate Handicap Chase (now known as the Trust A Trader Plate). It was something of a surprise to the stable. Venetia Williams, its trainer, also ran Ping Pong Sivola, the favourite, ridden by Liam Treadwell
Result
Something Wells (Mr William Biddick) — won by a neck after a thrilling finish.
Ping Pong Sivola (Liam Treadwell) — 13/2 favourite, stablemate of the winner (also trained by Venetia Williams).
Notable d'Estruval (Davy Russell) — 8/1.
Three Mirrors (Graham Lee) — further back.
Will won his first Walrus Open Hunters' Chase on 18 February, 2023. Run at Haydock, The Walrus is a prestigious British hunter chase over approximately 2m6f-3m, serving as a key trial for bigger spring targets like Aintree or Cheltenham.
Result
Famous Clermont (8yo bay gelding, 12-4, trained by C R Barber, owned by Biddiscombe, Rousell, Collins & Rogers, SP 4/5F) — ridden by Mr William Biddick. He won comfortably, proving his class as a prep for his later Aintree Foxhunters' success.
Finishing order:
Famous Clermont — Winner (by a clear margin; reports note he was never seriously challenged after taking command).
Envious Editor (IRE) (Mr Henry Crow) — 4/1, beaten a distance (around 10-15 lengths in some reports).
Welsh Saint (FR) (Mr Nathan Moscrop) — further back.
Write It Down (IRE) — placed.
Will won his second 'Walrus' on Saturday, 15 February 2025.
Result
Winner: My Drogo (10yo bay gelding, 11-12, official rating 145, trained by Edward William Walker, owned by Mr & Mrs R Kelvin-Hughes, SP 11/4 joint-favourite) — ridden by Mr William Biddick. He chased leaders, recovered position mid-race, challenged two out, led on the flat, and stayed on well.
Finishing order:
My Drogo — Winner (by 2 lengths).
Gracchus De Balme (FR) (Mr Huw Edwards) — 7/2, 2 lengths (keen early, led mid-race but headed and held late).
Jet Plane (or similar; third place in small field).
Others (fourth and further back; small field meant limited placings detailed, but included horses like potential non-finishers or tail-enders).
Will formed an initial association with Richard Barber and then, following Barber's retirement at the end of the 2013-14 point-to-point season with three titles to Will's name, Barber’s grandson Jack started training and supported him to make it six titles in a row, from 2011/12 to 2016/17 (this run included his record-breaking 68-winner season in 2014/15).
He was also champion in 2018-19 and 2022-23: this tied him with David Turner for the most titles in the men's category.
These championships are determined by the number of point-to-point winners ridden in a season under the rules of the Point-to-Point Authority (or equivalent governing body).For context on his placings in other seasons (where he did not win the title):
3rd in 2010/11 (behind Richard Burton)
2nd in 2017/18 (behind Alex Edwards)
3rd in 2019/20 (behind Jack Andrews)
2nd in 2020/21, 2021/22, and 2023/24 (various runners-up, including James King in some years)
He announced his retirement with immediate effect on New Year’s Day 2026, aged 39, ending his time in the saddle with 705 winners, 623 of them in British point-to-points.
Explaining the reason behind his retirement, he said: “I’ve lost the buzz. I’m not broken and the sport has been great to me, but I had a word with my wife, Harriet, at Christmas and decided it was time. I have had some amazing times and met wonderful life-long friends.”
Will trained Porlock Bay to win the Foxhunters in 2021, but couldn’t ride him because of Covid restrictions. Lorcan Williams took the ride instead. In a nail-biting finish, in front of the eerily quiet stands, Lorcan got Porlock Bay home by the shortest of heads.
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