BetMGM UK Saddles Up with Megan Nicholls
Successful jockey, insightful pundit, and all-round horse racing royalty… It is our pleasure to introduce Megan Nicholls, BetMGM’s horse racing ambassador.
As a jockey, Nicholls recorded over 110 wins over her career before retiring at the age of 25 to focus on other pursuits including television punditry for ITV and Racing TV as well as work as a jockey agent.
Megan’s wealth of experience both on and off the track has made her an undeniable force in the world of horse racing. We look forward to working with Megan and sharing her invaluable insight moving forward.
Megan Nicholls: Horse Racing Royalty
Megan Nicholls is the daughter of Paul Nicholls, a highly successful trainer in the world of horse racing. While her father’s track record speaks for itself, Megan’s accomplishments are her own, earned through hard work, dedication, and a deep understanding of racing. In her own words, she has spent her life around horses.
One of Nicholls’ passions as a child was pony racing, a pastime that would eventually come ahead of her education. It wouldn't take long before she turned her attention to horse racing full-time.
A career in National Hunt racing seemed inevitable – she impressed with 17 wins in her first season – but ultimately she chose to pivot to become a Flat jockey, citing “a different buzz” as the reason.
Nicholls proved a successful Flat jockey, winning over 110 times. Arguably her biggest victory came in 2021, winning at Aintree aboard the trusty Knappers Hill. She partnered him to a Grade Two success in the Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.
It is no surprise that her experience on the track has translated effortlessly into punditry. Nicholls made her debut on ITV at Musselburgh in April 2021. Since then, she has featured heavily across both flat and national hunt meetings.
Megan Nicholls in Numbers
- Nicholls recorded more than 110 career wins as a jockey, riding hundreds of mounts
- Her best year came in 2019, when she rode 29 winners on the Flat
- That same year Megan won the innovative Silk Series for the third time in three years with a race to spare
- Nicholls was a featured panel member during Cheltenham 2023, one of the most-watched festivals to date
Megan Nicholls and BetMGM
We are honoured to have such a recognisable figure in our stable. The knowledge, integrity, and prestige Megan brings to the industry is as entertaining as it is inspiring. We have no doubt she will continue to be a prolific name in the sport as BetMGM’s horse racing ambassador.
“Racing has given me some of the most amazing days of my life and I’m excited to share the passion I have for it with BetMGM’s customers and horse racing fans more widely. I have big ambitions as I grow my media career and I feel that really aligns with BetMGM’s vision to be the biggest and best. We have a lot of fun ahead of us and I am so excited to be a part of the team!”
Megan Nicholls and BetMGM – it’s showtime!
Megan Nicholls Racing Tips – Cheltenham & Doncaster
BetMGM ambassador Megan Nicholls has her say on the world of horse racing, bringing her top-class knowledge and insight exclusively to our blog.
This week the former jockey, who rode more than 110 winners before becoming a highly-regarded TV pundit, runs the rule over the meetings at Cheltenham and Doncaster following Newbury’s cancellation due to waterlogging.
Frankie’s Fairytale Farewell
It was absolutely phenomenal how everything worked out for Frankie Dettori on his last day at Ascot – a dream ending to have ridden Trawlerman and King of Steel to victory on Champions Day.
To have won on Trawlerman in the Long Distance Cup for Godolphin would have meant a lot to him, as would the fact John and Thady Gosden trained the horse.
But then for his last ride at Ascot to be a winner in the Champions Stakes was just ridiculous. I didn't think King of Steel was particularly loving it out there; the ground didn't seem to be something he was enjoying too much. He really stuck to his task, Frankie never gave up and between them they managed to close down Via Sestina and give Frankie his dream ending.
The atmosphere looked and sounded incredible. You couldn't write it – it was such an important day for racing. We'll miss Frankie and his personality an awful lot over here.
He says it's his last ride at Ascot but he'll do well to stick to that as I'm sure he will be tempted to come over for the Royal Meeting. But as things stand it’s his last and I think the way it ended for him was phenomenal. I don't think he would want to risk spoiling his fairytale goodbye by riding again here.
It was an amazing day for racing and well done to everyone at Ascot for getting the day to go ahead. The ground conditions were tricky; hopefully the weather will take a turn sooner rather than later as it's been very tough for the clarks of the course and everyone involved in the sport over the last 10 days to two weeks.
Doncaster 2.10 – Futurity Trophy
I think the market has it right – Ancient Wisdom deserves to be the favourite. He was very impressive at Newmarket last time, absolutely bolting up in the Autumn Stakes (Group 3) to win by more than three lengths. He's stepping up in grade again but he's the most likely.
Diego Velazquez looked a bit laboured when we won the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes (Group 2) at Leopardstown and the second-place finisher in that race, Capulet, did not boost his form next time out.
Although he's a big galloper and enjoys difficult ground, so the likely stiff test at Doncaster will suit him, his size means he will be much better as a three-year-old. Ancient Wisdom is ready now, so he is a worthy favourite.
At bigger odds the horse that will outrun his price is Devil's Point. I absolutely love this horse, he has plenty of ability.
He ran OK at Saint-Cloud last time and he's the one that could be overpriced – but it’s Ancient Wisdom for the win in my opinion.
Megan’s Tip: Ancient Wisdom WIN
Cheltenham 2.25 – Handicap Chase
I like Undersupervision – he's a horse that has run at Cheltenham plenty of times, he's run well there, is still relatively lightly raced and doesn't tend to have particularly busy seasons.
He likes a decent surface and, unbelievably, it looks like Cheltenham will have quite nice ground.
The thing that can let him down is his jumping so getting into that rhythm is really important. I'm sure this horse has more than enough ability but jumping well is massively important around Cheltenham.
He pulled up over four miles in the Scottish National when last seen but he's back to a more realistic trip of 3m 1f and it’s all about rhythm – he had a huge chance if he can find that.
Megan’s Tip: Undersupervision WIN
Doncaster 2.45 – Prospect Stakes
Al Shabhab Storm is in tidy form. He's progressed with each start and the fact he was a winner on soft ground at Goodwood last time out is a positive.
Trainer Andrew Balding has had another good season and it's nice to see a horse that looks to be a three-year-old type progressing through the back end of his two-year-old year.
I think it's a pretty open race, and he's improving at a quicker rate than most of the others. He's my selection.
Megan’s Tip: Al Shabab Storm WIN
Cheltenham 3.00 – Handicap Hurdle
I like the chances of my dad's runner here, Hugo's New Horse. He was really progressive last year with some strong form. There could easily be more to come from him and he's got plenty of experience now, which is a positive.
Now he's not going to be a novice anymore over hurdles, he has got to step it up against more experienced handicappers but he's got enough in the tank for me not to worry about his chances in a big field around Cheltenham.
He is up in distance for the first time and his stamina is unknown but the signs suggest he should get the trip with no problem.
As a rule, he travels and jumps well, which is important around this course. He might well take a bit of beating and he's a horse that is exciting for the future, especially when he goes chasing.
At a bigger price there’s Gortmillish for Gordon Elliott. He is slightly more unexposed but he looked to have gotten tired on his reappearance run at Killarney last time out and could take a big step forward from that start to now fitness-wise.
This is a qualifier for the Pertemps Final so no horses are in it just for the sake of it – but travelling all the way over from Ireland shows how highly Gordon rates this horse. He should be respected at a bigger each-way price of 14/1.
Megan’s Tip: Hugo's New Horse WIN, Gortmillish E/W
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