How long until Paul Nicholls sends STD back to Nigel and makes Sean Bowen stable jockey?

He stayed loyal to Sam last season after a number of 'disappointing' rides so I reckon any decision will be made at the end of the season based on how Sam has performed during the season (especially at the big meetings).

The one certainty is that Nicholls will never consider that his training or placing has anything whatsoever to do with the setbacks.....

who do you think is any better?just a LOT of average jocks these days -none to trust with mortgage job!!

Noel Fehily

Can't see Nicholls ever holding up his hands and saying it was a bad appointment, doesn't strike me as the type.

Twiston-Davies is much better than Bowen imo so can't see this happening.

You must be joking, surely? ^

STD couldn't lace Bowen's boots.

We'll agree to disagree then as i see it the other way around.

Fair doos!

It really is a strange one though but each to their own!

See Geraghty at the last there. If that was STD he would've ran the horse through the hurdle.

dont think either of them are good enough

I never see the criticism of Sam TD but all jockeys get it wrong sometimes. Geraghty did OK there but he is well past his sell by date imo.

MJK, I am surprised about your comment. Paul Nicholls seems to change jockeys more often than most trainers-apart from Ruby of course. Liam Heard, Joe Tizzard, Harry Skelton, Nick Scholfield (still used but never as first choice) James King. the list of discards is endless.

Oct 19, 2016 -- 2:01PM, sageform wrote:

MJK, I am surprised about your comment. Paul Nicholls seems to change jockeys more often than most trainers-apart from Ruby of course. Liam Heard, Joe Tizzard, Harry Skelton, Nick Scholfield (still used but never as first choice) James King. the list of discards is endless.

But he gave DTD the title of best young jump jockey around when he gave him the job. Most of us knew that was rubbish and to bin him now would be Nicholls admitting he was wrong

*STD

Agree with MJK Nicholls will look a little silly if he dumps Sam

Think he's more worried about up setting his mate Nigel than looking silly

Oct 19, 2016 -- 12:30PM, volontiers wrote:

Noel Fehily

a no brainer on ability

but its an age thing with noel, nicholls is always saying he wants a younger stable jockey with an eye on the future albeit he seems to chop and change jockeys quite a bit

With a strike rate of 60% in the last 10 days it doesn't matter who rides.

there are a few young jocks who would go far if they get with a big stable e.g. shane shortall, jonathan burke, david mullins, craig nicholl and as poor as nico/STD and Johnson can be, they have ridden big winners which buys them extra time...fehilly has ridden a few 'quiet' races so have to be careful but agree he's a good jockey, however can't touch hughes/kennedy/harding ever...it's quite odd that the largest stables have poor jocks at the moment, maybe they don't fancy coleman/cannon etc

Nicholls - STD
Henderson - Nico
King - Hutchinson
McCain - Kennedy

I think that he might be concerned about watching Sam win a series of big races on his fathers horses!

and before the wise and illuminated ask - i've ridden zero winners but if i had an F1 car and Johnson a Mini Metro then I'd lap him several times in a Grand Prix

I wouldn't put shane shortall or craig nichol on a rocking horse

david mullins is top class

I like young Bowen....But anybody that thinks he is a better Jockey than Sam,clearly is clueless imho.

I'll take that as a compliment acey, thanks!

I'd say give Bowen the same quality rides as Sam gets and I'd take evens Bowen would win on more..

only 0.5% u can trust over jumps.....

you're not wrong eg

Oct 19, 2016 -- 12:30PM, volontiers wrote:

Noel Fehily

Was always a top class horseman but has been past it imop for a couple of seasons now. As painful to watch riding a finish as Joe Fanning.

Many races are won before the last obstacle and horsemanship is as important as finishing strength but ALL jockeys lose a bit with age, none more so than Geraghty of those still riding.

i think james reveley would suit a big stable job does very well in france

On the evidence of Sam Thomas's and Daryl Jacobs' confidence-draining experiences, the multi-chinned maestro will make it very clear to the public precisely when he has decided to send his stable jockey out to ride with the axe hovering over him.

Young Bowen looks as though he will be having weight problems in the not too distant,so unlikely to be a long term prospect.

wonder - hope that's not some anti-scottish sentiments there! lol...shortall riding well for jardine and IMO did OK for elliott beforehand albeit young Jack is better and nichol will have a successful career, how successful depends if he can get a decent stable job, seems to be riding for nicky richards but despite him having some decent horses they don't come from a decent stable

not at all gordon...besides shortall is irish

I'm massively pro jardine as a trainer, think shortall is an extremely lucky boy to ride for him
if you have a look at craig nichol's figures he has racked up a pretty woeful A/E throughout his claim and it isn't likely to get any better now he's not claiming...avoid is my advice but up to you

jack kennedy completely different grade of jockey to shortall, that's why kennedy is big in ireland and shortall isn't

james revely gets horses to jump well but is as weak as a kitten on the run,in and has perfected the art of hanging onto fresh air

STD could not lace Sean Bowen's boots

is std still seeing nichools daughter? if so ther my lie your answer.

Teflon Sam