Horse Racing
Getting To Know Megan Nicholls The ITV Racing Presenter and Ex-Jockey
Andy is a horse racing journalist and betting expert who specializes in trends and stats. With his long association with TrainersQuotes and FromTheStables, Andy has also built up solid contacts with some of the best stables in the UK. Has written for GeeGeez and bookmakers Matchbook and BetBright in the past too, plus was the former sports betting editor of odds comparison site Easyodds and Juicestorm. Has also appeared on betting podcasts for MatchBook and has featured in the popular Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Guide in the past. Andy's also ghost written for former top jockey Richard Dunwoody and continues to have a monthly column in the Racing Ahead horse racing magazine. Now a regular on Sportscasting giving his views, trends and tips mainly on horse racing - if there's a stat to be explored and it's a sport, Andy is sure to find a betting angle to use.
Get to know Andy Newton betterPublished24 Jul 2024
Former jockey Megan Nicholls is now one of the go-to ITV Racing presenters and pundits for the horse racing channel – being seen by millions week-in, week-out, covering all the big meetings both over the jumps and on the flat in the UK.
So, let’s tell you a bit more about who Megan Nicholls is, where her weekly racing tips can be found and just who her famous horse racing dad is.
Who Is Megan Nicholls? Jockey Turned ITV Racing Presenter
Megan Nicholls is a former flat racing jockey in the UK and is now most famous for being one of the top ITV Racing presenters.
After a stint in the saddle, Nicholls retired from riding at the age of 25 back in 2022 to focus on her growing media career for Racing TV and ITV Racing.
The former jockey, who rode 110 winners, is also an ambassador for York racecourse and is often seen flying the flag promoting women in horse racing.
Champion Jumps Trainer Paul Nicholls Is Megan Nicholls Father
Megan Nicholls is also the daughter of 14-time British Champion trainer Paul Nicholls so having a foothold into horse racing wasn’t going to be hard.
She rode many times for her father, growing up in the Manor Farm Stables in Ditcheat.
During that time saw many horse racing greats like Cheltenham Gold Cup winners Kauto Star and Denman. Plus, the 2012 Grand National winning grey horse Neptune Collonges and serial Stayers’ Hurdle hero Big Buck’s.
From her 110 career wins, the most were provided by her dad Paul Nicholls – including the classy Knappers Hill, who won a valuable NH Flat race at Ascot on 18th December 2020 (watch below) – beating stablemate Stage Star.
Before training racehorses, Paul Nicholls was also a jockey just like his daughter.
He rode over a seven year period, winning 133 times – with his highlight back-to-back Hennessy Gold Cup wins at Newbury in 1986 and 1987 on a horses called Broadheath and Playschool.
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WATCH: Knappers Hill Winning At Ascot in 2020 For Megan Nicholls
WATCH: Funny YouTube Clip Of Megan Nicholls Referring To Her Dad As ‘Fat’
When talking about the 202 Ascot Gold Cup with Betfair pundit Daryl Carter, the pair touch on the chances of Yibir being a horse that might not stay the 2m4f trip.
In a difference of opinion, when Carter said on breeding Yibir should last out – Megan Nicholls hit back with a ‘must-see’ comeback that had Carter crying with laughter – you can watch the full clip here.
Does Megan Nicholls Have A Boyfriend?
It’s unclear if Megan Nicholls has a current boyfriend, but she previously dated top jockey Kevin Stott and also used to help him book his rides.
They met back in 2019/20 when riding in Dubai over the winter, but despite being a couple for over two years split up in 2023.
Stott was also the former retained rider for Amo Racing and rode King Of Steel to win the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2023.
But Stott was controversially replaced as their main rider not long after that success after the Amo Racing owners criticised his ride on the same horse in the Irish Champions Stakes.
Frankie Dettori took over to ride King Of Steel in his last two races – winning the British Champions Stakes at Ascot in October 2023 and finishing 5th in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita that same year.
Megan Nicholls doesn’t book Stott’s rides anymore but does say on her Instagram page that she’s in charge of booking her sister Oliver Nicholls’ mounts.
Megan Nicholls ITV Racing Pundit
Having hung up her riding boots, Megan Nicholls is a regular on the top horse racing channels – Racing TV and ITV Racing.
After retiring from race riding in 2022, Nicholls said “I very much wanted to explore that and it’s something I am enjoying. I pushed in my riding career and hopefully I can do the same this way.
“Training horses is not something I am interested in at the moment, and who knows what is down the line, but I have got good opportunities on the television.”
ITV Racing’s Matt Chapman Gave Megan Nicholls A Helping Hand Into The Media
Horse racing’s marmite character Matt Chapman is also credited by Megan Nicholls for helping her get a foothold into the world of horse racing media.
Nicholls also tips her hat to former jockey Martin Dwyer after he put her forward for a Racing TV ‘Through The Keyhole’ style feature which got her more attention.
Despite accidentally swearing on live TV during her early days in front of the camera, Megan Nicholls is now a regular on ITV most weekend’s and along with fellow former female jockeys Leonna Mayor and Adele Mulrennan, is carving out a promising career.
Nicholls said in the past “I think it’s fair to say everyone has done it. It’s easy to forget the cameras are on all the time and you can end up saying something you shouldn’t. It’s not great but I guess it’s the perils of live television – it’s only natural and we all make mistakes at some stage.”
Does Megan Nicholls Still Ride Racehorses?
Having started out riding in Point-to-Points, which are lower level jumps races for amateur riders, she switched to the flat at a 16 year-old.
She rode a lot for trainer John Berry and also most of the rare flat runners her famous jumps trainer dad had on the flat.
In total she rode 110 winners over her career before announcing her retirement after riding a horse called Oleg to 5th in a race at Kempton on 3rd August 2022. Oleg was also trained by her dad, Paul Nicholls.
Megan Nicholls said “I wanted it to end on one of Dad’s horses because he’s obviously supported me from the start. It’s sunk in because I know that it’s been coming for a while and it’s not just something I’ve thought about overnight,”
“I haven’t been riding a lot; it’s been few and far between my rides recently. I’ve had amazing times, but once I lost my claim things naturally became harder. You can put hours and hours of work in and receive little back.”
Her last winner as a jockey was on the John Berry-trained Derham at Pontefract on 11th April 2022.
Megan Nicholls Is Also an Ambassador With BetMGM
Leading bookmaker BetMGM have also signed-up Megan Nicholls to be their horse racing ambassador. Nicholls provides BetMGM with regular horse racing tips and content on their online blog.
Current Jockey Olive Nicholls Is Megan’s Sister
Olive Nicholls is Megan’s younger sister too, who is still riding. Megan is often credited for helping Olive book her rides and to date she’s ridden 10 winners from over 50 rides.
Including Meatloaf, who Olive rode to win at Wincanton for her dad (watch below) on April 2023.
Trainer Harry Derham Is Megan Nicholls’ Cousin
Top jumps trainer Paul Nicholls is the uncle of younger trainer Harry Derham – therefore, this also makes Megan and Harry cousins.
Megan is still also often seen riding out at the Harry Derham yard in the mornings and posts these pictures on her Instagram account.