PAUL NICHOLLS said on Tuesday that it was not ability alone that persuaded him to appoint Sam Twiston-Davies as new number-one stable jockey but the rider's positive attitude and outlook as well.
Twiston-Davies, 21, was unveiled on Monday night as the new top jockey for Nicholls, taking over from Daryl Jacob, who is set to ride as a freelance when returning from injury.
Nicholls said: "He has been riding for us increasingly last year and is a young man with a lot of talent.
"He rode over 100 winners this year and as a team we have been very impressed with him. Not just his riding but his whole outlook on everything and what he brings to the team.
"Owners and the team enjoy his company and he is a very talented rider. It's an ideal situation for us at the right time."
Twiston-Davies said the desire to be champion jockey was one of the motivating factors behind his move to Nicholls and he is 8-1 with Paddy Power to be champion this season. He is 4-6 to finish second to 19-time champion Tony McCoy.
Twiston-Davies took over from Ruby Walsh for the high-profile ride on Big Buck's last season after Jacob elected not to ride the four-time World Hurdle winner on his comeback in January, and has increasingly ridden for Nicholls since Jacob was injured in a fall at Cheltenham last month.
Jacob will continue to ride for Nicholls and the trainer added on Sky Sports News: "Daryl is still going to ride out a couple of times a week. We're still good mates and he will get as many opportunities as I can give him. On Saturdays when I'm looking for a rider he'll be the first person I call."
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