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Sam Twiston-Davies is the son of one of the most successful National Hunt trainers of all-time Nigel Twiston-Davies. He has ridden over 100 winners a season every year since 2013, which highlights his calibre as a top jump jockey. Sam has multiple Cheltenham Festival wins to his name and has been a Grand National jockey for the last ten straight years. Below, you can find out more about the career of Sam Twiston-Davies, including his most memorable wins and his record in the National to date.
Career Highlights
Sam was always destined for a career with horses, given who his father is. However, it’s never easy stepping out of the shadow and making a name for yourself. Yet, through hard work and dedication, Sam Twiston-Davies has managed to create his own legacy and is rightly considered to be one of the best jockeys of his generation.
Twiston-Davies’ first win under rules came in 2008/09; however, it was his victory in the St James’s Place Foxhunter Chase at the 2010 Cheltenham Festival which really announced to the racing world that he was a top jockey in the making.
After landing 115 race wins in the 2013/14 season riding mostly horses trained by his father, Sam Twiston-Davies was announced as the first jockey for Paul Nicholls. This proved a successful partnership as Sam went on to further Cheltenham glory with Dodging Bullets in the Queen Mother Champion Chase and Aux Ptits Soins in the Coral Cup in 2015.
The year after, Sam bagged three more Festival wins and he won the first of his two Scottish Grand Nationals onboard Vincente. At the end of the 2017/18 season, he stepped down from being the principal jockey for Nicholls and became a freelance rider which was a surprising choice for Grand National punters. This didn’t stop him from winning more than 100 races in the following season, however.
Trivia About Sam Twiston-Davies
Sam’s decision to quit his post as Nicholls’ main rider shocked many punters in the racing industry. He was interviewed by the Racing Post on his life as a freelance jockey in which he explains that he once again gets to spend more time at home helping his father, which is something that appeals to him.
He still rides for Paul Nicholls on occasions but another Grand National jockey Harry Cobden is the first jockey in that yard now so Sam doesn’t always get the best horses to pick from.
Sam Twiston-Davies: Major Wins
Even though he is still waiting for more big Grade 1 wins, this jockey has had quite a few accomplishments in his career so far that are worth noting. Take a look at the table below to learn more about the most important races this Grand National Jockey has under his belt.
| Race | Year | Horse |
|---|---|---|
| St James’s Place Foxhunter Chase | 2010 | Baby Run |
| Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle | 2013 | The New One |
| Coral Cup | 2015 | Aux Ptits Soins |
| Queen Mother Champion Chase | 2015 | Dodging Bullets |
| Champion Bumper | 2016 | Ballyandy |
| Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle | 2016 | Diego Du Charmil |
| Grand Annual Chase | 2016 | Solar Impulse |
We have to be fair, the Sam Twiston-Davies Grand National record is fairly average (even he would admit that). From his ten outings so far, his best finish is fifth on Hello Bud in 2010 – this was Sam’s first ride in the National. His other two finishes are in 7th and 17th place. He has failed to see the finish line on the other seven attempts.
