Sam Twiston-Davies may reunite with Paul Nicholls for prominent rides next season, following the departure of Harry Cobden, who has accepted a new role as retained jockey for legendary owner JP McManus.
Twiston-Davies famously served as the stable jockey at Ditcheat from 2014 to 2018, taking over from Daryl Jacob, before choosing to ride freelance. Cobden, who has ridden the majority of Nicholls-trained runners in recent years, will now focus primarily on McManus-owned horses starting this May.
Nicholls, a 14-time champion trainer, spoke openly about the situation: “Harry was never officially retained by us; it was always a gentleman’s agreement. He’s been with us since he was 16, coming from a family closely tied to our team. When an opportunity like this presents itself, you can’t stand in his way. It’s a fantastic job and well deserved.”
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Though Cobden will continue to ride out and occasionally race for Nicholls, his availability will be limited. Nicholls emphasized his commitment to nurturing young talent, naming promising jockeys like Freddie Keighley, Freddie Gingell, Jay Tidball, and Lorcan Williams. However, he acknowledged that for high-stakes Grade One events, an experienced Grade One jockey is essential.
“I’ve had discussions with Sam Twiston-Davies,” Nicholls revealed. “We’ll meet soon, and there’s a possibility he could take some of those big day rides. But we’re in no rush to fill any gaps—Harry will ride for us through the season and we have plenty of jockeys available.”
Nicholls also extended his best wishes to Cobden: “We all wish Harry well. He won’t disappear from us and will continue to ride winners for us.”
Twiston-Davies boasts a history of success with Nicholls, including his first Grade One win aboard Dodging Bullets in the 2014 Tingle Creek Chase. He also partnered with Nicholls to victory in prestigious races such as the Queen Mother Champion Chase, Melling Chase, King George VI Chase, and Punchestown Gold Cup.
Speaking to the Press Association, Twiston-Davies expressed optimism about rejoining Nicholls’ team: “It’s great to be throwing my hat back in the Grade One ring. Paul and I are in different places now, but the relationship remains strong. We both want to win, and that’s a dangerous combination.”
He added, “Paul knows my CV better than anyone, as he practically created it. With his proven ability to attract top horses, it’s exciting to be involved again. I look forward to returning to Ditcheat and catching up with everyone.”
Despite his renewed involvement with Nicholls, Twiston-Davies remains committed to supporting his brother Willy’s training career alongside their father Nigel. “Helping develop our family yard is important, but I also want to keep doing my own thing and enjoy the sport.”