3 minute read

Willy Twiston-Davies is set to join his father Nigel on the training licence from next season.

Twiston-Davies enjoyed notable successes under both codes as a jockey, which included a Royal Ascot victory on board Primitivo in the 2016 King George V Stakes and Cheltenham Festival glory as he partnered Baby Run to win the Foxhunter in 2010.

He would return to riding on the National Hunt scene a year after his Royal Ascot success but suffered a nasty fall at the Cheltenham Festival, resulting in two fractured vertebrae and cracked ribs and had two metal rods inserted in his back, just a handful of months after steering Flying Angel to victory in the Grade 2 Kingmaker Chase at Warwick for his father Nigel.

Twiston-Davies, who rode more than 200 winners combined on the Flat and over jumps and has since enjoyed a successful period in the Bloodstock industry, told Matt Chapman of Sky Sports Racing: "Dad and I have worked closely for a long time and more so than ever this year.

"We've got a fantastic bunch of staff here and we've worked in tandem so well, we've not had any arguments, so from next season it should be Nigel and Willy."

He added: "We're all having to work together so closely at the minute with what's happened to our dear Sparky. He does everything, all the hard bits, to make mine and dad's lives easier.

"I'd like to think with me joining, the staff can come to me for a talk and take it to Dad. We've got an amazing bunch of staff, it's like a family. I'm very proud to be a part of it."