Smart flat apprentice Poppy Bridgwater to follow In her Father’s footsteps over the jumps

It was an excellent summer in 2018 for Poppy Bridgwater, riding twenty-five winners. Things didn’t quite go to plan last year with ten and now the smart apprentice has set her sights on jump racing. Just twenty-one years old, she has already shown that she is more than capable in the saddle and can make a bold move pay off.

Her flat career

Bridgwater has ridden forty winners on the flat so far, forging a strong relationship with Tony Carroll. He provided twenty-three of those successes and with a small string of jump horses, it will be no surprise to see them reunite over the winter.

She particularly rode Brighton, a tricky track to perfect which shows her skill to the max. Equally adept on front runners and hold up horses, she has a background in showjumping from when she was younger so boasts plenty of experience over obstacles.

Her Dad

That’s not a big surprise given that her father is ex-jump jockey David Bridgwater, fresh off a Cheltenham Festival success with The Conditional. “I’ve always grown up with jump racing and it’s been in the back of my mind. Over lockdown I’ve done a lot of schooling for Dad and loved it.”

Nigel Twiston-Davies

Bridgwater is looking to join the yard of Nigel Twiston-Davies to add to the already strong team formed at Grange Hill Farm. A smart yard for a conditional jockey to be connected to, it would be an excellent career move for a young jockey who many racing fans believe has a bright future in the game.

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