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Champions galore — the next generation of jockeys lines up at Olympia

Jennifer Donald Jennifer Donald

    • Coming under starter’s orders for this year’s Osborne Refrigerators Shetland Pony Grand National at Olympia Horse Show are a whole host of familiar names following in the footsteps of their famous racing parents.

    Among the brightest young names lining up for this year’s ultra-competitive contest at Olympia, the London International Horse Show (17-23 December) is Olive Nicholls, daughter of 10-time champion National Hunt trainer Paul Nicholls. She rides the pint-sized racing Shetland Briar Tiffany.

    Olive will be up against Alice Crowley, daughter of 2016 British Flat racing champion jockey Jim Crowley, who himself is a graduate of the Shetland Pony Grand National at Olympia.

    Lucy Aspell, whose father Leighton won back-to-back Grand Nationals at Aintree in 2014 and 2015 riding Pineau De Re and Many Clouds, will be heading to the Grand Hall, Olympia, for the second year.

    Nine-year-old Lucas Murphy is another blessed with racing genes as his father Timmy won the 2008 Grand National riding Comply Or Die. Up-and-coming jockey Lucas won a race at Chepstow racecourse earlier this month and heads to Olympia on Shelcroft Buttercup.

    The fast and furious Shetland Pony Grand National is open to jockeys aged 8-14, who must be under 5ft tall. Past contenders who kick-started their racing careers at Olympia include Sam Twiston-Davies and Tom Garner. All proceeds go to The Bob Champion Cancer Trust.

    The full field of runners and riders who have qualified to race at Olympia this year is as follows:

    • Lucy Aspell riding Magherdartin Beeswax
    • Alice Crowley riding Hillcroft Denzel
    • Poppy Dadson riding Merkisayre Sea Duble
    • Alfie Diaper riding Damerham Brair Lilly
    • Archie Gubb riding Gruntness Inogee
    • Daisy Harrap riding Cranford Fantastic
    • Zak Kent riding Briar Smokey Joe
    • Lucas Murphy riding Shelcroft Buttercup
    • Olive Nicholls riding Briar Tiffany
    • Madeline Reader-Smith riding Hollydell Poseidon
    • Scarlett Thornton riding Broadspring Phantom

    Keep up to date with all the action from Olympia from 17-23 December right here on HorseandHound.co.uk with indepth reports on all the action in Horse & Hound magazine.

    Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout major shows like London International and more with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

    Jennifer Donald
    Jennifer Donald

    H&H showjumping editor
    Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.
    Jennifer Donald

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