Megan Nicholls announces shock retirement aged 25 on live TV and bows out on horse trained by legendary dad Paul

MEGAN NICHOLLS has announced her shock retirement from racing aged just 25.

The daughter of legendary trainer Paul shared her news live on Racing TV on Wednesday night.

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Megan, whose final ride was a fifth-placed finish on 18-1 Oleg, a horse trained by her dad, said she was hanging up her saddle to focus on media work.

A popular part of the ITV Racing punditry team, Megan leaves with 110 career winners but said part of her decision to retire was that she knew she could never compete at the really top level.

Megan, whose father Paul had no idea she was retiring, said: "I started with Dad and wanted to finish with him, although I didn’t tell him this was the plan!

"I thought today was the right day to stop. In the back of my head I thought it was the perfect opportunity. It just felt right.

"I suppose it's been kind of on the cards for little while.

"I've had an amazing time riding and absolutely loved it, starting in point-to-points and turning to the Flat.

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"But in the last two years I've been doing a bit more of the media side and I’ve very much enjoyed it.

"And I also like to be realistic. If I was talented enough to be riding at the standard of Hollie Doyle or Hayley Turner, and so on, then I wouldn't even have been thinking about something different.

"Don't get me wrong, I've had many good days, but sometimes there's only so far you can get and I wouldn't want to be beating around trying and never getting anywhere, so I turned my hand to something else.

"I've had some amazing opportunities with Racing TV and ITV and it’s kind of been a natural transition."

Dad Paul was at Kempton to see the action and posted a photo of himself and Meg after the race.

He wrote on Instagram: "Megan and Oleg @kemptonparkrace after her final ride.

"Super proud of what you have achieved since your first ride on Gwanako at Weybridge when you were 16. Good luck with new career."

To which Meg replied: "Thank you for everything, Dad xxx."

Nicholls made her debut aged 16 in 2013 and secured her first Flat winners the following year.

Her biggest win came aboard Knappers Hill, a horse trained by her old man, in a Grade 2 bumper at the 2021 Grand National meeting.

Nicholls' best year was 2019 when she had 29 winners.

Over the past five seasons she amassed just over £670,000 in prize money.

Her final winner was Dereham for trainer John Berry at Pontefract in April.

Nicholls added: ""I will miss coming racing and being in the weighing room.

"I've met some great friends over the last few years, and I've also met my partner Kevin Stott through the weighing room.

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"It's been very special place, for many reasons. You can't really describe the atmosphere in there, and the sort of family that is created around this racing world.

"It's just very special and I've been so fortunate to be part of it.”

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