Jockey Q&A: 'Paul Nicholls wasn't happy - and I wasn't best pleased either'

Over the next few weeks we will bring you a series of app-exclusive Q&As with pro punters, trainers and jockeys which will offer unrivalled insight to our sport. This series continues this week with jockeys. Today: Sam Twiston-Davies

Who's the best horse you've ever ridden?

The New One. He was unbelievably straightforward and had an incredibly good attitude. He was a pleasure to ride and made my life easy. He had the ability to turn up from two miles to two and a half and was just a very special horse. A guy called Wayne Jones broke him in as a young horse and said he was different, and Wayne was spot on.

Who's your favourite horse of all time?

Hello Bud, who is still the screensaver on my phone. You always remember the first time you fall in love with a horse and mine was with him. I know he wasn't the greatest horse in the world, but he won a Scottish National for Paddy [Brennan] and two Bechers under me. He was the kindest horse ever and still lives with my aunty now and gets ridden regularly. I was fifth on him on my first ride in the Grand National and I thought, turning in alongside Denis O'Regan, 'Oh my God, I'm going to win the National'. For a horse to give an experience like that to a teenager was once-in-a-lifetime stuff, which is why I'll forever be fond of him and thankful for everything he did for me. He was so much fun.

Which horse was your most difficult ride?

This is easy – Mad Moose. He was a nightmare. I don't know what it was, but he was incredibly intelligent and seemed to know what day of the week it was. At Dad's [Nigel], we work on a Tuesday and a Friday and those are the days he wouldn't want to go, so you'd have to play with his training regime all the time. You'd try different things and he could finish second to Sprinter Sacre – beating Somersby, which showed the ability he had – but then getting him just to start and put it all in was a problem. The older he got, the trickier he got. We trot back down the gallop, but he wouldn't want to do that and would just watch the rest of them; then, a minute or two later, he might consent. We had to think outside the box with him and I'm happy to admit I stood down from riding him at home at quite an early stage, so Susannah Bagnell took over and she never lost her head with him. If he was in the mood, she'd do a bit of work on him and, in the end, it was her telling Dad when he was ready.

Which winner has given you most satisfaction?

Hello Bud's second Becher as a 14-year-old – I don't think my legs have ever gone so fast! Daryl Jacob was closing in on Join Together and I thought we'd get chinned. That was one of the best days because you don't genuinely believe a 14-year-old could win the Becher. He retired after that and it was a lovely story.

Reve De Sivola (far side) and Zarkandar are locked in battle in the 2014 Long Walk HurdleCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

If you could ride one race again, what would it be?

From an enjoyment point of view and the memory, it's Dodging Bullets' Champion Chase win, but if I could have another go in a race it would be the Long Walk Hurdle in 2014 when I rode Zarkandar, and then got the worst bollocking I've ever had. I was absolutely cantering two out, eased to the front before the last, but didn't jump it that well and Reve De Sivola just got back at me. Zarkandar started to respond, but it was too late. Paul Nicholls wasn't happy, but – to be fair to him – I wasn't best pleased with myself either.

What's the hardest course to ride?

There are some that are difficult, but the more you ride the more you work them out. If you try to ride a race round Fakenham, it seems to be the place where you'll most often find yourself too far back or in the wrong position, so that can be very tricky.

Which horse are you most looking forward to riding this year?

Weveallbeencaught won a bumper at Newbury after he was an expensive purchase following his point-to-point win. He's been schooling and working well. He's likeable and straightforward and I imagine we'll start somewhere quiet – possibly over two and a half miles – and then let him tell us where he goes. Everyone's very happy with him, but he won't be running until we get a substantial amount of rain.

Can you give us a horse to follow?

Sergeant Wilson has been training really well and schooling super. I wouldn't have said him immediately, but when he won at Taunton there was a horse called Major Fortune 17 lengths behind him and Stan Sheppard came out the other day and said he was a horse to keep an eye on. So I'm thinking, 'Hang on, we were miles clear of him'.

Read more trainer Q&As:

Milton Harris: 'I've been backing my horses at prices I couldn't believe'  

Kim Bailey: 'You can ask my jockey David Bass why the win was so satisfying' 

Fergal O'Brien: 'The only person who is a worse tipster than a trainer is a jockey'   

David Pipe: 'She asked if I was David Pipe - and if I could sign one of her boobs'   

Paul Nicholls: 'I felt my head was on the chopping block - he had to win'