Is it all over between Nicholls and Sam T-D?

Desert Orchid

Desert Orchid

Senior Jockey
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Aug 2, 2005
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I'm wondering if there's a parting of the ways on the horizon.

In the past fortnight Nicholls has had 13 runners. T-D has only ridden four of them.

Yesterday Nicholls had four runners, two at Doncaster and one each at Cheltenham and on the Flat AW at Lingfield.

At Doncaster, T-D wasn't on Warriors Tale which was beaten in a photo. At Cheltenham, Frodon won by no less than seventeen lengths under Bryony Frost. Her claim wouldn't account for that margin. T-D rode three for his father yesterday, one in the race with Warriors Tale.

I'm just wondering if all is well between them?
 
Its a possibility Des but Nicholls tbf to him probably didn't expect that Frodon was going to win by 17L before hand. He's always been a fan of using claimers in handicaps so I wouldn't read too much into it. Sean Bowen has been riding Warriors Tale regularly so I wouldn't read too much into that either.

Actually didn't you mention the other week that Nicholls did his nut when Andy Stewart suggested that Byrony was going to ride Saphir de rheu in the Gold Cup ? That tells me Nicholls knows claimers have their place but when it comes down to Graded company he wants his best man on top.
 
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Danny said:
Actually didn't you mention the other week that Nicholls did his nut when Andy Stewart suggested that Byrony was going to ride Saphir de rheu in the Gold Cup ?
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I did indeed but I now wonder if that's the source of some disagreement!
 
granger said:
PFN for all his talent has a stable of handicappers
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Obviously lacks a Denman, Kauto Star but still plenty of talent including Politologue and Frodon looked to have stepped up a level yesterday.

Then there's Cliffs Of Dover for the Champion Hurdle and Saphir Du Rheu for the Gold Cup...
 
Desert Orchid said:
Obviously lacks a Denman, Kauto Star but still plenty of talent including Politologue and Frodon looked to have stepped up a level yesterday.

Then there's Cliffs Of Dover for the Champion Hurdle and Saphir Du Rheu for the Gold Cup...
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One of his owners paid 450k for him to get a top pointer from these shores a few months ago.

He should probably have better horses at his disposal given some of his owners
 
Well according to rumours rife today at our local point to point, PN is currently exploring other female riders.......and not necessarily for his horses.......!

I'll leave you to speculate!
 
I know he had the security of being able to ride for his dad, but Sam had the sense to not put all of his eggs in one basket when it came to PN, who has dropped so many jockeys over the years when they've been injured and have become surplus to requirements.
 
moehat said:
I know he had the security of being able to ride for his dad, but Sam had the sense to not put all of his eggs in one basket when it came to PN, who has dropped so many jockeys over the years when they've been injured and have become surplus to requirements.
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Apart from Ruby and AP who went to Pipe hasn't Nicholls sacked all his other stable jockeys ?
 
Don't think he's ever got over the loss of Ruby; his eyes used to glaze over when he mentioned his name! I'd love to know what happened to all the other jockeys, though, and whether they left by mutual agreement.
 
jinnyj said:
Well according to rumours rife today at our local point to point, PN is currently exploring other female riders.......and not necessarily for his horses.......!

I'll leave you to speculate!
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Nothing new there the way he changes his women, and I'm not talking about jockeys.
STD not up to a top job, never was.
 
moehat said:
Don't think he's ever got over the loss of Ruby; his eyes used to glaze over when he mentioned his name! I'd love to know what happened to all the other jockeys, though, and whether they left by mutual agreement.
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Timmy Murphy was suddenly replaced by a young Joe Tizzard who was soon found not to be up to the job . PN used a number of jockeys until he finally did a deal with Walsh .

Jockeys are important - if you have a good horse would you want to send it to a stable where you did not rate the first jockey ? I would not be at all surprised if the decline in the quality of the horses at Ditcheat was to do with Walsh's departure. Consider the fact that when Howard Johnson was banned the Wylies split their horses between Nicholls and Mullins - when Walsh went the Wylie horses followed shortly after . I always thought that was tough on PN considering the extraordinary job he did with Tidal Bay in his twilight years .

The same applies to the Pipes - losing AP was a disaster for them compounded by making Tom Scudamore their No 1 .
 
Was surprised Nicholls didn't go for Fehily when he signed Sam. Suspect he regrets not doing that now.
 
As far as I know Fehily had a retainer to ride the Giles/Sullivan Horses (Zarkandar, S Conti etc) but never actually worked for PFN


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granger said:
One of his owners paid 450k for him to get a top pointer from these shores a few months ago.

He should probably have better horses at his disposal given some of his owners[/QUOTE

Danny Kirwan. He's owned by the De La Hey's.

Chris Giles has pumped some money in recently too with Trevelyn's Corn going for 400k. He's definitely getting more into picking up some Irish P2P graduates where he can.
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He's the first Irish P2P graduate I can think of that the De La Hey's have bought. Their stock has predominantly come from France.
 
I see Sam T-D has ridden 6 winners from 35 rides in the last fortnight.

None has been for Nicholls.

The closest he got was a good second on a non-favourite.

Tomorrow's riding arrangements made me go and check their partnership of late. I still wonder if they've agreed to go their separate ways or are just biding their time ahead of a massive assault on the festival.

You'd also think if there were any substance in my concern their would have been racecourse rumours by now which would have made their way here to this forum.
 
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