Megan Nicholls is one of those names racing fans keep bumping into — whether it’s on ITV Racing, at big meetings like Cheltenham, or just scrolling through clips online. Former jockey, now pundit, and very much part of racing royalty… but she’s not just riding on the family name.
She’s carved out her own lane. Quietly, steadily, and in proper racing style — no fuss, just getting on with it.
- She was born on the 3rd of July, 1998.
- She is the daughter of legendary trainer Paul Nicholls.
- She rode 110 winners as a flat jockey.
- Retired from the saddle in 2022 at the age of 25.
- Now a regular face on ITV Racing and Racing TV.
- Also works in bloodstock and horse sourcing.
Who is Megan Nicholls Really?
If you’ve seen her on ITV Racing, you’ll know the vibe — calm, sharp, and someone who actually knows what she’s talking about because she’s been there and done it.
But long before the studio lights, Megan was just the kid at Manor Farm Stables in Ditcheat, Somerset, growing up surrounded by horses, chaos, and one of the biggest names in racing — her dad, Paul Nicholls.
And yes, that Paul Nicholls. According to The Mirror, Paul is a 14-time champion trainer. The man behind Kauto Star, Denman, Big Buck’s… The list basically goes on forever.
Racing wasn’t really a “career option” for her. It was just life.
As she once told Horse & Hound, horses were everywhere growing up. She said:
“You knew that they were special because of the fuss made over them. Dad used to try and keep us away from the racehorses when he could, but we liked to join the back of the string and get involved.”
She was hooked early.
How Old is Megan Nicholls?
If you’re wondering, how old is Megan Nicholls? — She was born on 3 July 1998, which makes her 27.
Still young, but she’s already lived a few racing lives in one.
From Saddle Life To Calling It a Day
Megan didn’t hang around waiting for things to “click”. She went the flat racing route, not National Hunt like her dad, and ended up riding 110 winners. Not bad at all.
One of her better-known moments came when she partnered Knappers Hill to a Grade Two win at Aintree in 2021 — the kind of day every jockey remembers.
But by 2022, she made a pretty honest call: time to stop. She told the Racing Post that her career had started to drift backwards and, in her words:
“Not everyone is blessed with natural talent… you can work as hard as you want, but when you have people ahead of you, it’s hard.”
And that was that — riding boots off at 25.
Also read: Who Is Georgiana Bronfman? Age, Family, Husband and Life in 2026
ITV Racing: The Second Act
Retirement didn’t last long in “what now?” terms. She popped up on ITV Racing in 2021 while still riding, and by the time she stepped away, she was already halfway into a new career.
Now she’s a regular on screen with Ed Chamberlin, Mick Fitzgerald, AP McCoy, and the rest of the ITV Racing crew — breaking down races in a way that actually makes sense to viewers.
She also works with Racing TV, so she’s basically everywhere during big meetings like Cheltenham.
A Pundits feature even pointed out she picked up an Emerging Talent Award in 2023, which says a lot about how quickly she settled into media life.
Megan Nicholls Love Life
For a while, Megan was with Kevin Stott. He is a jockey-turned-agent. Megan even helped him in his career from the back. But by early 2026, things quietly ran their course, and the pair went their separate ways.
After that, Megan was linked with jump jockey Tristan Durrell. The two have kept things very private, with only small public hints about their relationship. Both are from the racing world and seem to share a love for the sport.
The Family Question
People always ask: How many daughters does Paul Nicholls have? He has two — Megan and Olive. And yes, both are involved in racing in their own way.
Olive Nicholls rides as an amateur National Hunt jockey, while Megan has gone down the jockey-turned-TV route. Different paths, same horse obsession.
The Sun feature highlighted how racing is basically the family group chat topic that never ends.
Not Just the Famous Surname
Here’s the thing with Megan Nicholls — the surname opens the door, sure. But you still have to walk through it and do the job. And she has.
She’s not just sitting in a studio talking general racing chat. She’s been in weighing rooms, ridden winners, lost races, made calls, and learned the hard way like everyone else.
Now she’s also getting involved in bloodstock work — helping source horses for her dad’s yard at Ditcheat.
As she put it in The Guardian:
“If you can buy a horse that has a heart and willingness to go with it, you’re halfway there.”
So What’s Next?
At 27, she’s already ticked off jockey, broadcaster, and bloodstock work. Not many people can say this before getting their first mortgage.
Whether she sticks with TV long-term or leans deeper into the racing operation side, one thing’s clear — she’s not just “Paul Nicholls’ daughter” anymore.
In the paddock or on screen, Megan Nicholls has become a name that people actually recognise on her own terms.
And in racing, that’s not always easy to pull off.
Sources and References:
- Mirror – Paul Nicholls is a 14-time champion trainer.
- The Sun – Racing is basically the family group chat of the Nicholls family.
- Pundits – Megan Nicholls won an emerging talent award in 2023.
- The Guardian – Megan said that if you can buy a horse that has a heart and willingness to go with it, you’re halfway there.
