'Proud moment' for Paul Nicholls as daughter Olive prepares for debut

Olive Nicholls, the daughter of 12-time champion trainer Paul Nicholls, will have her first ride under rules at Wincanton (2.10) on Wednesday.

The 16-year-old has already made a good impression in point-to-points, winning on four of her 17 rides, including a victory on Rhythm Is A Dancer at Maisemore Park on Sunday.

Nicholls is mixing her studies with a busy schedule of eventing and pointing, but it is work she clearly enjoys.

'It's a great starting point'

"She loves the job," said her father. "Last weekend she rode three different horses eventing on Saturday and then went pointing on Sunday."

Nicholls rides Get The Appeal and the trainer is hopeful the mare can prove a worthy partner for the debutante. He said: "It'll be a proud moment and she has a nice mare to ride. It's good of Middleham Park to let her ride – it's a great starting point.

"Olive has schooled her a few times over hurdles during the winter so she knows her well – hopefully they'll go well. Get The Appeal is fresh and well, she's won round the track and should run nicely."

Trainer Paul Nicholls: 'It shines a great light on pony racing and what it's done for them'Credit: Edward Whitaker

There will be a healthy competition among the jockeys as Nicholls will be riding against two jockeys she came through pony racing with.

"It's quite interesting that Colin Tizzard's grandson Freddie Gingell is riding in it as they're mates from pony racing," said Nicholls. "Guy Landau's daughter Molly is also riding, they all grew up together pony racing and are coming through now. Between them they have a lot of fun and competition. It shines a great light on pony racing and what it's done for them."

Nicholls could eventually follow in the first steps of her father, who added: "I don't think she has any aspirations to be a professional jockey, she just enjoys riding and the amateur scene. I think she's more interested in training potentially."

2.10 Wincanton racecard and betting

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