Megan Nicholls
Megan Nicholls is the daughter of champion National Hunt trainer Paul Nicholls. As a child she was successful in pony racing on a horse called What A Risk, but her schoolwork began to play second fiddle to the horses.
Megan Nicholls is the daughter of champion National Hunt trainer Paul Nicholls. As a child she was successful in pony racing on a horse called What A Risk, but her schoolwork began to play second fiddle to the horses.
After completing just one year of her lower sixth A-levels, her parents saw that she was unhappy with school life and allowed her to work in the yard full time.
After completing just one year of her lower sixth A-levels, her parents saw that she was unhappy with school life and allowed her to work in the yard full time.
She began riding in point-to-points and had 17 winners in her first season. She looked set for a career as a jump jockey, but before the following point-to-point season started, she had a change of heart. She rode as an amateur on the Flat, had a few winners and found she loved it. That gave her the taste for more and she decided she wanted to be a Flat jockey.
She began riding in point-to-points and had 17 winners in her first season. She looked set for a career as a jump jockey, but before the following point-to-point season started, she had a change of heart. She rode as an amateur on the Flat, had a few winners and found she loved it. That gave her the taste for more and she decided she wanted to be a Flat jockey.
Megan went on to ride a total of 110 winners on the Flat and in bumpers. In 2019 she won the Silk Series – a series of 15 races launched in 2017 with the aim of promoting female jockeys – for the third time in three years.
Megan went on to ride a total of 110 winners on the Flat and in bumpers. In 2019 she won the Silk Series – a series of 15 races launched in 2017 with the aim of promoting female jockeys – for the third time in three years.
She achieved her biggest success on Knappers Hill, trained by her father, in the Grade 2 Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race at Aintree on Grand National day, 10 April 2021.
She achieved her biggest success on Knappers Hill, trained by her father, in the Grade 2 Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race at Aintree on Grand National day, 10 April 2021.
She rode what would prove to be her last winner on 13-2 shot Dereham, trained by John Berry, in Britain’s second-longest race, the two-mile five-furlong 130-yards Pontefract Marathon Handicap on 11 April 2022.
She rode what would prove to be her last winner on 13-2 shot Dereham, trained by John Berry, in Britain’s second-longest race, the two-mile five-furlong 130-yards Pontefract Marathon Handicap on 11 April 2022.
She announced her surprise retirement from race-riding, aged just 25, live on Racing TV after finishing fifth on 18-1 chance Oleg, trained by her father, in a two-mile Class 4 handicap at Kempton Park on 3 August 2022.
She announced her surprise retirement from race-riding, aged just 25, live on Racing TV after finishing fifth on 18-1 chance Oleg, trained by her father, in a two-mile Class 4 handicap at Kempton Park on 3 August 2022.
She said that she was hanging up her saddle to focus on media work, adding that part of her decision to retire was that she knew she could never compete at the really top level.
She said that she was hanging up her saddle to focus on media work, adding that part of her decision to retire was that she knew she could never compete at the really top level.
Megan Nicholls has become a regular face on Racing TV and ITV Racing, and she is also intent on furthering her talent-spotting skills at bloodstock sales.
Megan Nicholls has become a regular face on Racing TV and ITV Racing, and she is also intent on furthering her talent-spotting skills at bloodstock sales.
