An Interview with Freddie Keighley, Conditional Jockey for Paul Nicholls
Not many have a racing background like Freddie Keighley. Father Martin started off with the doyen of jump racing David ‘The Duke’ Nicholson, becoming a successful jockey. The pinnacle of Martin’s riding career was winning an Aintree bumper on 1998 Grand National day on Kings Road. Since joining the training ranks, Martin has validated his forte there, particularly loving a winner round their local course, Cheltenham. Mother Belinda, a former amateur, rides out and runs the office at their Gloucestershire yard. Younger brother Harry, 16, is just beginning his career in racing.
Freddie’s first winner came at Wincanton in October 2023 on Prairie Diamond, for owner Nigel McAllen and trained by Martin – and there was no looking back.
Despite continuing to ride a lot for his father, Freddie, 18, is carving his own way as conditional jockey at Paul Nicholls’ Somerset stables. Going by the nickname Little Fred, he has clocked up twenty-seven winners so far, showing a will to improve and succeed that will see him riding many more.
Freddie had an association with Paul Nicholls longer before going to work there fulltime, one that was successful even then. ‘At school, I did my work experience at Ditcheat and at the end of that week, Paul very kindly offered me Sametegal to point-to-point. He provided me with my first winner, a week after my sixteenth birthday, on my first day race riding at Didmarton. I kept in touch with Paul and rode out when I could. I saw him at the Cheltenham Festival in 2024, the day after I gained my Conditional Licence. He offered me a job as Freddie Gingell had ridden out his claim the day before and he needed a 7lb claimer.’
House-sharing in Ditcheat with George Edgedale, Paul’s Assistant, Freddie lives a few minutes from both yards. He is hungry for winners, willing to travel the country to ride them and has the support of his boss and family behind him.
Freddie's steps to becoming a jockey...Pony Club, Shetland Pony Grand National and then pony racing
Did you have a horsey childhood? Yes. I think I was born on a horse! Mum and Dad took me to the Cheltenham Festival aged ten days old! Mum always made sure I had suitable ponies and took me (and brother Harry) to Pony Club. We did many years at Cotswold Vale Farmers Pony Club Camp at Cheltenham Racecourse. She also drove me all over the country, both pony racing and with the Shetland Pony Grand National Team.
First racing memory: My whole childhood is full of racing memories.
Was it inevitable that you’d become a jockey? Yes, I always wanted to be a jockey.
Describe your stepping stones in becoming a jockey: I had a lot of fun with the Shetland Pony Grand National Team on a pony called Blackie that hadn’t long been broken in when Mum bought him from the pre-loved website! He took us to so many places including Olympia and then the London International Horse Show. I did pony racing on safe, slower ponies before getting the ride on Miss Millfield, who was highly strung but brilliant. I won ten races on her and she taught me so much.
Then, to learn on pointing, I was lucky to have had Sametegal and Peter Boggis’ Mr Mafia, who were both 15-years-old. I only rode them in my first season so was very fortunate to learn on two schoolmasters.
Favourite jockey: Sean Bowen and Ryan Moore.
Favourite racehorses: De Temps En Temps, Back on the Lash, Queenie St Clair.
Favourite racecourse: Cheltenham.
Racing hero: Sean Bowen.
Racing role model: Ryan Moore.
Best day in racing so far: I’d have to say my first Cheltenham winner on De Temps En Temps. It was for lovely owners, including my parents, and trained by my Dad and led up by my brother Harry. Also, my first ITV winners – Red Risk at Musselburgh and Queenie St Clair winning the valuable mares’ hurdle at Kelso.
What do you love about working for Paul Nicholls? It is a great place to learn from so many people and lots of lovely horses. The really good team of people means it is good fun too.
What is Paul Nicholls like as a boss? He is fair. If you work hard then you get rewarded with rides.
Hopes/dreams for the future: I’ll try and keep my head down and try to keep improving. Hopefully, I’ll keep riding winners.
Favourite meal: Steak and Chips.
Favourite drink: Lucozade.
Favourite snack: I do eat a few too many sweets!
Dream holiday destination: Maldives.
Favourite film: Crocodile Dundee.
Favourite music: Anything upbeat.
Favourite book: I prefer to be outside rather than reading!
Ideal night out: Anywhere as long as there is a good group of us.
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