PAUL NICHOLLS has snapped up a ‘future star jockey’ – who looks destined for greatness after winning the Shetland Pony Grand National.
Hugely promising conditional jockey Freddie Keighley will join the new-look team at Nicholls’ Ditcheat stables.
The legendary 14-time champion trainer is having a major revamp ahead of the new jumps season.
And Keighley, the 17-year-old son of trainer Martin, is one of several new names through the door.
He will arrive at a yard that has turned the likes of Harry Cobden and Sean Bowen into Champion Jump Jockeys.
While Gold Cup-winning rider Paddy Brennan and multiple Grade 1 winner Sam Twiston-Davies all learned their trade under Nicholls.
Keighley caught Nicholls’ attention on the point-to-point circuit.
But he showed he can mix it under rules with a win on Pacific at Worcester last week, seeing off the likes of former King George-winning jockey Gavin Sheehan in the process.
Keighley comes from a strong racing background and showed his skill in the saddle in the Shetland Pony Grand National at the London International Horse Show in 2021.
One person who saw the up-and-coming sensation in action said: “Future jockeys don’t stand a chance after the last if Freddie is in contention.”
While another said even as a young teenager he ‘oozed confidence’ on top of a horse.
The race itself churns out top talent including the likes of Saffie Osborne and Charlie Todd – as well as former Champion Flat Jockey Jim Crowley.
Speaking of his newest recruit, Nicholls told the Racing Post: “It’s great to have Freddie in the team.
“He’s been brought up with horses and he’s been doing plenty, including (riding on former Greatwood Gold Cup winner) Sametegal, and started off really well.
“He’s starting off right at the bottom of the ladder and has got a long way to go.
“But if you look at our record with conditionals over the years then he’s come to the right place to learn.”
Nicholls also said he plans to give Keighley plenty of rides when the season kicks off properly again in October.
The trainer has a crack squad of jockeys headlined by Cobden.
But below him in the pecking order are the likes of Paddy Power Gold Cup winner and last year’s Champion Conditional Freddie Gingell, plus Keighley’s fellow rookies Jay Tidball and Ben Bromley.
Nicholls added: “You can learn plenty from just schooling with those older boys like Harry and you need young people to keep coming through.
“He’ll get opportunities.”
Nicholls had to sit back and watch as Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton battled it out for top trainer honours at Sandown in April.
But, buoyed by the likes of Cheltenham Festival winner Caldwell Potter, looks set to go all out for glory in the 2025-26 season.
Part of the plan for success has been increasingly using daughter Meg’s expert eye at the sales – which led to them ‘bagging a belter‘ amid a £280,000 spending spree last month.
While a number of backroom changes have also been confirmed.
Fergal O’Brien’s former right-hand man Charlie St Quinton joins as Nicholls’ new assistant after the departure of Charlie Davies, who has started a new career in insurance.
The Racing Post also report that George Edgedale has become second assistant, while Nicholls’ daughter Olive will now be pupil assistant and continue to ride as an amateur.
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