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Willy Twiston-Davies was born on December 1, 1994, the son of Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies.
Willy Twiston-Davies was born on December 1, 1994, the son of Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies.
Like his older brother Sam, Willy graduated through pony racing before bursting onto the racing scene as a 16-year-old in 2011 when partnering Baby Run in the Foxhunters Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. He was unseated at the second last when two lengths clear that day but made amends over the Grand National fences a month later, winning the Aintree Foxhunters by three-quarters of a length on the same horse.
Like his older brother Sam, Willy graduated through pony racing before bursting onto the racing scene as a 16-year-old in 2011 when partnering Baby Run in the Foxhunters Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. He was unseated at the second last when two lengths clear that day but made amends over the Grand National fences a month later, winning the Aintree Foxhunters by three-quarters of a length on the same horse.
Shortly afterwards he embarked on a Flat racing career. He partnered the Geoff Oldroyd-trained Ladies Are Forever to a pair of all-weather Listed race wins at Lingfield early in 2013. On July 29, 2015 he rode his father’s Sands Of Fortune to land the 2m 4½f Goodwood Stakes.
Shortly afterwards he embarked on a Flat racing career. He partnered the Geoff Oldroyd-trained Ladies Are Forever to a pair of all-weather Listed race wins at Lingfield early in 2013. On July 29, 2015 he rode his father’s Sands Of Fortune to land the 2m 4½f Goodwood Stakes.
In 2016 he rode Gold Mount to victory in the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot for Alan King, giving Willy entry to an exclusive club of jockeys to have ridden a winner over the Grand National fences and at the Royal meeting. He ended that season with 33 winners, having been regularly put up by top trainers such as Roger Charlton and William Haggas.
In 2016 he rode Gold Mount to victory in the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot for Alan King, giving Willy entry to an exclusive club of jockeys to have ridden a winner over the Grand National fences and at the Royal meeting. He ended that season with 33 winners, having been regularly put up by top trainers such as Roger Charlton and William Haggas.
By then, however, he was struggling with his weight, so he returned to the sport of his roots in December of that year. He made the perfect start to 2017 by riding Cogry to victory in a class 2 handicap hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. On February 4 he steered the Fergal O’Brien-trained Lord Of The Island to victory in a Grade 3 handicap hurdle at Sandown. He then gained another important success over jumps when winning Warwick’s Grade 2 Kingmaker Novices’ Chase aboard Flying Angel, trained by his father, on February 11, 2017.
By then, however, he was struggling with his weight, so he returned to the sport of his roots in December of that year. He made the perfect start to 2017 by riding Cogry to victory in a class 2 handicap hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. On February 4 he steered the Fergal O’Brien-trained Lord Of The Island to victory in a Grade 3 handicap hurdle at Sandown. He then gained another important success over jumps when winning Warwick’s Grade 2 Kingmaker Novices’ Chase aboard Flying Angel, trained by his father, on February 11, 2017.
That turned out to be his last winner because the following month he was badly injured in an eighth fence fall from Foxtail Hill when leading in the Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase on day one of the Cheltenham Festival. He sustained two fractured vertebrae and cracked ribs. He was in hospital for six days and had a six-hour operation to insert two metal rods in his back.
That turned out to be his last winner because the following month he was badly injured in an eighth fence fall from Foxtail Hill when leading in the Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase on day one of the Cheltenham Festival. He sustained two fractured vertebrae and cracked ribs. He was in hospital for six days and had a six-hour operation to insert two metal rods in his back.
While keen to return to race-riding and having been passed fit to resume, his time on the sidelines had enabled him to see the bigger picture. He was becoming more interested in the bloodstock and training side of things. For the past three years, he had teamed up with older brother Sam and owner John Nield to deal in bloodstock. The trio became involved in ‘pin-hooking’ – buying foals and selling them on as yearlings.
While keen to return to race-riding and having been passed fit to resume, his time on the sidelines had enabled him to see the bigger picture. He was becoming more interested in the bloodstock and training side of things. For the past three years, he had teamed up with older brother Sam and owner John Nield to deal in bloodstock. The trio became involved in ‘pin-hooking’ – buying foals and selling them on as yearlings.
He had also enhanced his role with his father’s Cotswold-based operation, riding work five times a week and becoming more involved with the training side with a view to eventually taking over the licence.
He had also enhanced his role with his father’s Cotswold-based operation, riding work five times a week and becoming more involved with the training side with a view to eventually taking over the licence.
Thus, he announced his retirement from the saddle in early December 2017 at the age of 23, bringing to an end a career in which he had ridden more than 200 winners, 189 of them on the Flat.
Thus, he announced his retirement from the saddle in early December 2017 at the age of 23, bringing to an end a career in which he had ridden more than 200 winners, 189 of them on the Flat.
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