TOP trainer Paul Nicholls is adamant that his stable jockey, the Naunton-based Sam Twiston-Davies, has the right credentials to become a future champion jockey.

Tony McCoy is set to retire at the end of this season, when he will have won his 20th consecutive jump jockeys' title.

Perennial runner-up Richard Johnson is likely to start favourite to end up at the top of the table in the post-McCoy era, but Nicholls said: “Sam has won more prize-money than any other jockey this season and you can see how well he is doing.

“Some people said it was the wrong decision to take him on but I never thought that.

“He’s made the odd mistake, but he’s improved and the ride he gave (Grand National fancy) Rocky Creek on Saturday was one of the best he has given.

“He’s a nice lad and everybody likes him. He’s an investment for the future and he’s turned out a very good one.

“I think his dad (Nigel Twiston-Davies) will help him and I will help him, he just needs to get a few more outside rides.

“I have always thought he could be champion jockey one day and if he gets those outside rides he’s definitely going to be right up there.”

Nicholls unveiled his Cheltenham Festival team on Tuesday, many of which will be ridden by Twiston-Davies.

Nicholls plans to take a smaller team to Cheltenham than last season, but is convinced quality is not in short supply.

“This year I don’t want to run horses at the Festival just for a day out so I will have a more select team and certainly less than the 36 runners I had in 2014.

“We have got a great team and we are very happy with them.

“We are a bit light on the novice hurdlers this year, but I would probably say it is as good a squad as we’ve had."

In the Ladbrokes World Hurdle (Thursday, March 12)which Nicholls dominated with former champion Big Buck's, Twiston-Davies has opted to ride Saphir Du Rheu rather than Zarkandar.

“Sam has decided to ride Saphir Du Rheu and that was a close call. He thinks he may one day win the Cheltenham Gold Cup on him. Big Buck’s would never jump a fence but Saphir Du Rheu will.

Nicholls also has two in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase on the second day, Dodging Bullets and Mr Mole, the mount of McCoy.

Nicholls remarked: “Dodging Bullets probably on form deserves to be the favourite for the Champion Chase but he is not. He has had a fantastic season.

Twiston-Davies is excited by the prospect of riding Rocky Creek in the Crabbie's Grand National following his victory under a big weight at Kempton on Saturday.

"He ran a blinder when fifth in the race last year.

"This year he's been trained for the race whereas last year the Gold Cup was a bit more his aim."