Nicholls: Jacob saw Big Buck's ride as no-win
BY TOM KERR 4:55PM 12 JAN 2014
DARYL JACOB did not get the ride on Big Buck's because he appeared to view the prospect of riding the four-time World Hurdle winner as a "no-win situation", Paul Nicholls said on Sunday.
Nicholls was explaining the decision to hand the ride on the star hurdler, who is set to return from injury later this month, to Sam Twiston-Davies instead of the stable's main jockey, Jacob.
"We have obviously been discussing Big Buck's' comeback for a few weeks at Ditcheat and it became clear to me that Daryl had doubts about riding him in the Cleeve, and that immediately put a big doubt in my mind," said Nicholls.
"It was the lack of him being positive more than anything else.
"So we talked it over at length and Daryl explained how he viewed the ride, almost as if he saw it as something of a poisoned chalice.
"He explained that, in his opinion, Big Buck's was part of a past generation here at Ditcheat - the last remnant of the Kauto Star and Denman era, if you will - that he has never been part of that, and his focus was on the future.
"It was as if he regarded the ride as being in a no-win situation. If Big Buck's won, it was all down the horse. If he lost, and that phenomenal unbeaten run with it, it was down to him. That is no way to approach any race."
He added: "It wouldn't surprise me if Daryl didn't feel a sense of relief at the news [he will not ride Big Buck's]."
Nicholls, writing in his Betfair column, insisted that the decision to give the ride to Twiston-Davies should not be seen as any reflection on Jacob.
"For those who think that this is a big snub for Daryl - and plenty obviously do - then they should read this and think again," Nicholls said.
"And don't forget that he isn't the retained jockey at Ditcheat, he is our main jockey. There is a difference.
"He will never ride all of the horses, and at no point did he think that he would. And nor will anyone in the future."
