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Within 3 days STD has been thrown off a horse on the flat. The first time he would have gone close if not won. The second time today he had won. I cannot recall this having happened to the same jockey so close together. In fact I can’t recall it having happened before.
Is it bad luck?I see he has admitted he made a mistake. For a top jockey to become unbalanced is poor
Patrol film reportedly showed the horse bucked twice (most unusual) then jinked. Sam apologised on twitter and was then picked up publicly by his boss:
Nicholls voiced his support for his stable jockey on Twitter, telling the rider there had been no need to apologise and that he should “move on.”
The trainer wrote: “You do not need to apologise to anyone. These things happen and you know he is ‘quirky’ at home. Move on.”
That’s something that I’d have thought would have been said quietly on the telephone, and it suggests to me that there is some level of strain there. When Nicholls begins communicating about his jocks in public, it’s not a good sign. He put Sam Thomas under public pressure, most unfairly imo, with a story in the RP after Sam had had a couple of falls/unseats. ST was gone shortly afterwards.
PFN then lobbied against D Jacob in public over the ‘poisoned chalice’ Big Buck’s affair.
I wonder if Sam will still be with him come the festival
If he falls off anymore like those 2 I doubt he will be there after Christmas never mind come March
Nicholls voiced his support for his stable jockey on Twitter, telling the rider there had been no need to apologise and that he should “move on.”
The trainer wrote: “You do not need to apologise to anyone. These things happen and you know he is ‘quirky’ at home. Move on.”
That’s something that I’d have thought would have been said quietly on the telephone, and it suggests to me that there is some level of strain there. When Nicholls begins communicating about his jocks in public, it’s not a good sign.
I don’t think Nicholls would have gone public about the incident if Sam hadn’t issued his apology publicly.
I was surprised by his public apology and could imagine Nicholls being annoyed by it.I think Sam will be with Nicholls for the next five years at least. We forget how much criticism Ruby Walsh copped in his first couple of seasons in the job – he had a series of ill-judged rides or mishaps including those aboard Fadalko, Whitenzo and Cornish Rebel.
The same all-knowing voices piped up saying Twiston-Davies would get the boot when he misjudged his ride on Zarkandar in last year’s Long Walk. Again, Nicholls was publicly critical but stuck by his jockey.
After having watched the two incidences numerous times I must say I don’t think many would of stayed on either of the horses, both jinking completely unexpectedly. The apology really wasn’t necessary, just Sam doing his normal nice ‘social media’ thing.
The last poster has got it spot on. Too many punters on here ready to criticise jockeys,who probably cannot even ride themselves. Horses are unpredictable especially racehorses.Look at the stupid things they do when loose on the course,crash through the white rails,career across in front of other horses,run into spectators etc. When we ride the youngsters in the winter we keep our legs down,so that when they do unpredictable things,buck violently,whip round,run backwards,rear bolt upright and walk like ballet dancers,fly leap and jink whilst cantering or galloping,we have to be prepared. So “Ride long,live long” is our winter motto.
Jockeys ride shorter than ever they used to both on the flat and over jumps and it is far harder to stay on top when you are riding short in a race if a horse does something unpredictable. You punters sometimes talk about horses like they are racing cars and even they crash.
Sam is a top class young jump jock with a very nice nature, mishaps occur to all.I have never ridden a racehorse so feel unqualified to say whetehr this was careless or unlucky!!
We all are damned good armchair jockeys and maybe we should all , myself included , remember that!!
I am not a jockey either, however have ridden before and it is difficult. I don’t doubt that for a minute and I have the greatest respect for jockeys.
However racing is just another sport and people who watch and gamble on it are entitled to their opinion whether another person on here agres or disagrees with that view.
My original post was could anybody recall another top jockey being thrown off 2 horses in 3 days and if so is it bad luck.
I am a Man Utd fan and have been slagging off LVG and no I am not a football manager either.
It always beats me how people don’t like jockeys and trainers being critiscised.
I don’t know but I would wager a bet that most if not all have slagged off this current goverment at some time but I bet not one of you have ever been a Prime Minister.
This is a forum where people are supposed to be allowed thier views rightly or wrongly<P>Re – the question:<BR>Bad luck.</P>
Oh yeah, bad luck.
Nicholls tweeted the horse was quirky so STD should be well aware.Policy Breach was supposedly a bad ride the other week.
pot, kettle, ginger
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
I am not a jockey either, however have ridden before and it is difficult. I don’t doubt that for a minute and I have the greatest respect for jockeys.
However racing is just another sport and people who watch and gamble on it are entitled to their opinion whether another person on here agres or disagrees with that view.
My original post was could anybody recall another top jockey being thrown off 2 horses in 3 days and if so is it bad luck.
I am a Man Utd fan and have been slagging off LVG and no I am not a football manager either.
It always beats me how people don’t like jockeys and trainers being critiscised.
I don’t know but I would wager a bet that most if not all have slagged off this current goverment at some time but I bet not one of you have ever been a Prime Minister.
This is a forum where people are supposed to be allowed thier views rightly or wronglyI agree with the general point above.
Racing is so protective of itself. It really is crazy to suggest you need to have ridden to be critical of a jockey. Twiston-Davies wouldn’t have apologised if he didn’t believe he had made a mess of things and yes, as a professional, he can’t afford to be doing that sort of thing too often.
<P>Re – the question:<BR>Bad luck.</P>
Oh yeah, bad luck.
Nicholls tweeted the horse was quirky so STD should be well aware.Policy Breach was supposedly a bad ride the other week.
pot, kettle, ginger
That is the key point, Nicholls said it is well known in the stable that the horse is quirky, Twiston Davies should have been extra vigilant and alert to the possibility of something unexpected happening. He appeared to ride it the same as any other horse. Other jockeys would have been and have been in the past more alert to the possibilty of something happening and stayed aboard.
Terrible lower leg action STD has. The reason he came off was as he jumped the last and moved on hands and heels, heels went up the horses rib cage and set off a bucking action from the horse. If you watch very carefully his leg is very high, who knows why, and the horse reacts. Some horses hate being touched behind the saddle and you can get them to buck very easily by tickling them there. Needs to get some riding lessons and stop windmilling his lower leg.
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