Born to be a Jockey
The young rider is the latest member of one of jump racing’s most prominent families to make his mark on the sport.
The 19-year-old will be officially crowned Champion Conditional Jockey at Sandown’s Jump Finale celebrations on Saturday after a superb season.
The young rider is the latest member of one of jump racing’s most prominent families to make his mark on the sport.
When he picks up his trophy on the final day of the jumps season, he will be following his uncle Joe Tizzard, who won the prestigious accolade for top young jockey 26 years ago.
Freddie’s granddad, Colin Tizzard, trained the winners of many big races, including the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Native River, before handing over the licence at their Dorset stables to Joe.
Freddie's Inspiration From Above
His late mum, Kim Gingell, was a big part of the successful training operation until she passed away aged just 43 in 2020.
Freddie paid tribute to his mum after landing his first Grade 1 success last season when Elixir De Nutz, trained by uncle Joe, defeated Jonbon in the Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham.
In an emotional interview, he revealed how she had been a massive part of him becoming a jockey and how he felt she had been looking down on his famous victory.
With that big-race experience behind him and the backing of two of jump racing’s most powerful stables, he was always going to be hard to beat in the race for the conditional jockeys’ title.
Hard Work Equals Great Reward
Not only has he had the support of Joe, but he also had the considerable force of his boss, 14-times Champion Jumps Trainer Paul Nicholls, behind him.
It was Nicholls that provided more big-race success when he handed him the ride on Il Ridoto in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November.
His ride was further proof that Freddie was a star in the making. It was quickly followed, just two days later, by his first treble when he stretched his lead in the conditionals’ championship on a sparkling afternoon at Exeter.
It’s a lead he has maintained throughout the season, despite challenges from talented trio Callum Pritchard, Dylan Johnston and Caoilin Quinn.
Grounded but Ambitious... a Future Champion Jockey?
The winners have flowed throughout the season but that is hardly anything new. Freddie was a star of the pony racing circuit and in point-to-points.
He was a 16-year-old schoolboy preparing to sit his GCSE exams when he rode his first hunter chase winner on West Approach at Wincanton for his grandad.
His progress into the professional ranks has been seamless and the future could not be brighter for Freddie.
Now he will join the likes of Sir AP McCoy, Harry Cobden and Sean Bowen as Champion Conditional Jockey.
Like those three, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he returned to Sandown on the final day of the season at some point in the future to pick up the trophy as the fully-fledged Champion Jockey.
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