Nick Scholfield
Nick Scholfield was brought up on the Pony scene and has being tasting success from a very young age, winning at the illustrious HOYS (Horse Of The Year Show) at just 14 years of age. In 2006, aged 16, he was champion novice rider, breaking all records to achieve a total of 25 winners, and in 2008 he emulated his Father and was crowned champion male amateur.
As a teenager he joined one of the most famous yards in the country – Ditcheat, for Paul Nicholls and was Champion Amateur Rider before turning professional in 2008. He has won some top prizes for the Nicholls yard aboard both Cornish Sett and New Little Bric and came to the fore when partnering Taranis in the Argento Chase at Cheltenham in January 2010 and though he rides out for Nicholls weekly, he also regularly rides for other trainers including Jeremy Scott, Kim Bailey and Andy Turnell who he worked for as stable jockey in 2009.
In the last five seasons Scholfield has earned close over £1 million for connections and has a 13% win rate in chases, winning 96 from the 765 he’s run in. Throw in a couple of hundred places and you can see why he’s on board one the favourite this year.
Having taken part in four previous Grand Nationals – 2008 on Cornish Sett finishing 12th, 2009 on Cornish Sett finishing 17th, in 2010 on My Will but fell at the 4th and in 2011 on Ornais but again fell at the 4th – the 2013 National was the fifth time that jockey Nick Scholfield ran out at Aintree on board the much fancied and Rebecca Curtis trained Teaforthree.
After an incredible run, Scholfield navigated his way around the Aintree course and got Teaforthree home in third place. He paired up with him again for the 2014 Cheltenham Gold Cup where he finished in 8th spot and plans are now well underway for Teaforthree to go two places better and win the 2014 Grand National with Scholfield confirmed as his jockey once again.
