Cheltenham Festival-Winning Jockey Nick Scholfield Announces Retirement

[Wandering Eyes]

Cheltenham Festival-winning jockey Nick Scholfield has announced his retirement from race-riding and is set to join the training ranks next season.

In a career which spanned nearly two decades and brought 680 winners, Scholfield enjoyed four victories at the top level, in addition to his three triumphs on the biggest stage of all at Prestbury Park.

“As a child, all I ever wanted to do was become a jockey, following in my father's footsteps,” said Scholfield. “I feel incredibly privileged to have ridden professionally and shared the weighing room with some amazing jockeys over the years.

“I would like to extend my thanks and express my deep gratitude to so many people who have helped me over the years–the owners, trainers, stable staff, my agents and sponsors.

“They have all supported me throughout my career, many of whom have been with me since my early days as a 7lb claimer. I'm excited for the next chapter as a trainer!”

Melodic Rendezvous (2013 Tolworth Hurdle), Irving (2015 Fighting Fifth Hurdle), Adrien Du Pont (2016 Finale Juvenile Hurdle) and San Benedeto (2017 Maghull Novices' Chase) were the four horses who provided Scholfield with a taste of success at the top level, while his breakthrough victory at the Cheltenham Festival came in 2014 when the remarkable Hunt Ball won the Listed Pulteney Land Investments Novices' Handicap Chase from a BHA mark of 142. That was his seventh win of the campaign, the first of which had been achieved from a mark of just 69.

“He was an absolute gentleman,” the rider said of Hunt Ball. “Every time I rode him, I believed we'd win.”

Scholfield's best season numerically came in 2012/13 when he partnered 66 winners in Britain, while his final victory in the saddle came aboard Hot Rod Lincoln in a handicap chase at Uttoxeter on February 8. Monbeg Genius was unable to provide the rider with a fairytale finish when pulled up in Saturday's Grand National at Aintree.

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