Meg Lanning's near-miss after nearly becoming the WPL's first centurion was followed by fellow Aussies Beth Mooney and Ash Gardner helping Gujarat to a key win.
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Lanning’s 92 eclipsed as Gardner’s Giants win in WPL
Inside AA for MUMS where alcoholics drop kids at on-site creche… then tearfully reveal they drink-drive with tots in car
IT’S Tuesday evening and I’m in a church in a smart corner of South West London.
I’m at a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous, or AA, as it’s known.
There are 20 or so people here, about eight of them women. None of them conform to any preconceived notions of a “drunk” or “down and out” who might attend AA.
One is wearing fashionably narrow trousers and a patterned blouse, another is in smart neutral trousers and a jacket, as though she’s just come from the office.
Most of the women appear to be in their thirties and forties and I believe many are mothers. A well-dressed lady in the group looks like she’s in her late sixties.
These women have hit what’s known in AA parlance as “rock bottom”.
Health chiefs warn that Britain is in the grip of an alcohol crisis.
Last month, the Office for National Statistics revealed that alcohol-related deaths in the UK have hit a record high – 10,473 in 2023.
And British women top the list as the world’s biggest female binge drinkers, according to a 2023 report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
There are ordinary mums across the country whose “wine o’ clock” reward at the end of the day has spiralled into alcoholism.
It’s a sign of the times that AA, which holds more than 4,000 meetings across Britain each week, now runs the occasional “parent and child” group.
According to the NSPCC, the number of children in England with a parent who misuses alcohol is consistently high, with more than 70,000 cases recorded each year since 2019.
One parent and child group was held every Wednesday morning for most of last year at a location in Kent.
An upstairs room was fitted out as a creche, complete with toys, where young children could play while their mums and dads attended their AA meeting.
I speak to Amanda, a 44-year-old divorced mum and chartered accountant who takes her 10-year-old son to the meetings, where he sits in a side room playing on his Nintendo Switch.
AA meetings have a reputation for secrecy, but I’ve been granted the privilege of attending one in South West London.
Chaos-filled lives
During these intimate sessions, chaos-filled lives are laid bare.
As Amanda tells me matter-of-factly: “I’ve been to a lot of funerals. Women who’ve relapsed, fallen down the stairs and broken their necks.
“You hear it all at AA. Drink driving with kids in the car, failed suicide attempts, stealing. But it’s all pretty normal to me.”
Before the meeting starts, tea, coffee and biscuits are served. The atmosphere is friendly, convivial even.
Then everyone takes their seats and the mood becomes sombre.
You hear it all at AA. Drink driving with kids in the car, failed suicide attempts, stealing. But it’s all pretty normal to me
A middle-aged woman, a recovering alcoholic, chairs the meeting.
Seated next to her is a man who is to be tonight’s story “sharer”.
Draped over a couple of chairs are banners outlining Alcoholics Anonymous’ famous 12 Steps, from admitting you are “powerless over alcohol” to the point where you have a “spiritual awakening” and the 12 Traditions.
These include the desire to stop drinking, anonymity and to have no opinion on outside issues.
One of the women begins by reading from Alcoholics Anonymous, aka The Big Book, which contains stories about AA and its programme of recovery.
The “sharer” then tells his story, how he used to take his daughter with him to the pub in the dark days of his drinking.
He’s in a good place, he’s sober, but his marriage has broken up.
There is silence. It’s now up to the rest of the group whether to respond.
One of the women speaks up.
“I’m Charlotte and I’m an alcoholic,” she says.
What to do if you think are an alcoholic
IF you’re struggling with alcohol addiction, the most important thing is to recognise the problem and seek support – You don’t have to face it alone.
Seek Professional Help
- GP or Doctor – A medical professional can assess your situation and provide advice on treatment options.
- Therapists or Counsellors – Talking to an addiction specialist can help address underlying causes and develop coping strategies.
- Rehab or Detox Programmes – If physical dependence is severe, medically supervised detox may be necessary.
Consider Support Groups
- Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) – A well-known 12-step programme that provides peer support.
- SMART Recovery – A science-based alternative to AA, focusing on self-empowerment.
- Local Support Groups – Many communities have groups tailored to different needs.
It’s strange to hear AA’s most famous line said in real life.
“Good evening, Charlotte,” says the rest of the group.
It feels almost like a religious mass, with its church setting and its ritual and moments of sombre contemplation.
Charlotte says she used to take her daughter to the pub and give her a pack of crisps to keep her happy.
Her marriage is over, too. Alcoholism destroys marriages.
To protect confidentiality, AA has asked me not to report specifics about what is said.
Later, however, one woman at the meeting, Susan, a 64-year-old grandmother, tells me her own harrowing story.
For the past 19 years, she has attended one or more AA meetings every week.
“I was a top-up drinker for 10 years,” she tells me.
“Every day, I bought three bottles of wine for £10 and drank steadily from morning to night.
For a long time, I kept it secret. I held down a job, running a restaurant, and my four children were dressed and fed.
“My husband was an alcoholic. We split up. I carried on drinking.”
As many alcoholics do, Susan – tired of being nagged to give up – began drinking in secret.
‘Everything fell apart’
“I stopped drinking in public,” she says.
“I had a boyfriend. I never stayed the night, we never went on holiday. If we did, he would have discovered the truth.”
Susan’s life became increasingly chaotic.
One of her children’s teachers tipped off social services.
“In the last year or two, everything fell apart,” she says.
“It had a terrible effect on my children – they were worried and angry. They’d be thinking, ‘Is my mum gonna be here when I come home from school? Will she be alive?’
“One of my children’s teachers contacted social services. I was fast-tracked into detox and rehab.
“I was ready to die at that point in my life.
“I went to AA. In the first year, I attended a meeting every day, after that it was three meetings a week. I haven’t had a drink for 19 years.”
Amanda started drinking heavily in her teens.
“I’d binge drink on a Friday – three bottles of wine in one night, as much white wine as I could swallow.”
“I would get very drunk very quickly, I’d go into blackout.
Amanda says she hung onto her job by a thread.
“We’d go to the pub at lunchtime. When the others went back, I’d stay in the pub alone, pick up my phone and pretend to have conversations, to look busy.
“I’d sleep around. On a good Friday I’d wake up alone, on a bad night there would be a stranger next to me.”
In 2006, she attended her first AA meeting, on the King’s Road in Chelsea, South West London, after being invited by a friend who was already a member.
“We walked into this primary school,” she says.
“I couldn’t believe how many people were there because they didn’t want to drink. I thought, ‘S**t, there are other people like me’.”
Amanda says she found the ritual and repetition of AA, and its supportive environment, helpful.
She stopped drinking and in 2010, when she had been sober for four years, began a relationship with another recovering alcoholic at AA.
She says relationships between AA members are common.
“I hardly know anyone who hasn’t had a relationship in AA – like in any other social group, people bond over common issues and spend a lot of time with each other.”
Making advances to vulnerable people who have recently joined AA is known as “13th stepping”.
I hardly know anyone who hasn’t had a relationship in AA – like in any other social group, people bond over common issues and spend a lot of time with each other
“Some people might use the term to warn people to take care around romance in their AA circle,” says Amanda.
She says her own relationship was not in the 13th step category. She had been sober for four years when she met her husband and “the power between us was balanced”.
They married in 2013, but Amanda’s husband sadly relapsed and they split up after three years.
“It was a difficult marriage,” she says. “He eventually confessed to me he’d been secretly drinking for a few years. I had no idea.
“I’ve had to remain sober for our son.
“I have a son who has grown up in AA. I’ve had to explain to him about his dad and about alcoholism. He can’t help it.”
Relapses are not uncommon.
“You get close to people and they fall away,” says Amanda. “I don’t know if they stopped coming, or if they’re dead.”
Back in South West London, the meeting is drawing to a close.
The host concludes with the Serenity Prayer, a prayer for strength and wisdom in challenging times.
She asks for a volunteer to do the washing up.
It’s mundane, but mundanity is what AA members thrive on.
And so, as the chairs are stacked and the last cups washed, it strikes me that in this quiet, unassuming church hall, lives are not just being rebuilt – they’re being saved, one meeting at a time.
- Names have been changed
NHS guidelines on drinking alcohol
According to the NHS, regularly drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a week risks damaging your health.
To keep health risks from alcohol to a low level if you drink most weeks:
- men and women are advised not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis
- spread your drinking over 3 or more days if you regularly drink as much as 14 units a week
- if you want to cut down, try to have several drink-free days each week
If you’re pregnant or think you could become pregnant, the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all to keep risks to your baby to a minimum.
You read more on the NHS website.
‘Normally a bottle of red wine down by then’ – David Moyes hints he’s not happy with unusual Everton kick-off time
DAVID MOYES has revealed that Everton’s late kick-off against Wolves might throw a spanner into his Saturday night routine.
The Moyesiah worries Everton’s 8pm trip to the West Midlands might throw havoc into his down time.
Wolves host Everton at 8pm on Saturday due to broadcasting reasons.
The Prem clash was selected for TV broadcast by TNT Sports.
TNT will also show Nottingham Forest‘s home clash against Manchester City during their usual 12:30pm Saturday slot.
Still, Everton are set for 8pm because Sky Sports have the 5:30pm spot on weekends, and they are showing Brentford vs Aston Villa.
But Moyes hinted that he’s far from happy with the strange late kick-off.
On playing at 8pm, Moyes said: “I’m normally a bottle of red wine down by that time on a Saturday!
“If you’re a traditionalist then you probably don’t see 8pm on a Saturday night as a good kick-off time.
“But it’s the way it’s going and I think football clubs are signing up to it due to the money that is coming in from the broadcasters.
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“We have to go with it even if it will ruin some people’s Saturday night out.”
Moyes is known for his love of a good glass of red, as he’s frequently recalled enjoying a bottle with Sir Alex Ferguson from time-to-time.
TNT have 52 live Premier League matches this season.
After deciding against selecting certain games in recent weeks, TNT have some extra slots for the remainder of the campaign.
At the time of selection, Wolves vs Everton looked to be potentially important in the relegation battle.
However, since then, both sides have pulled away from the bottom three, with Everton 15 points clear and ten above Wolves.
Wolves will be without top scorer Matheus Cunha for at least the next three matches.
The Brazilian will start the first game of his suspension following his red card against Bournemouth in Wolves’ FA Cup defeat last weekend.
It is alleged Cunha “acted in an improper manner” after he was sent off for clashing with Cherries defender Milos Kerkez in the final minute of extra time.
The 25-year-old lashed out at Kerkez three times – fighting and kicking out at him before aiming a headbutt when the Hungary full-back got back to his feet.
Meanwhile, Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure returns after missing the Brentford draw due to the birth of his son.
Three tips for making money from your old mobile phone
IF you’ve recently upgraded your phone, don’t just stash your old model in a drawer.
Instead sell it on to make a decent chunk of cash.
Here’s how to make the most from your old gadget.
VALUE IT: The sooner you sell your phone, the better as the model will only become more outdated with time and less valuable.
The amount you can expect to fetch from your phone will be based on its make, model and condition.
Keeping a screen protector and case on your phone when you are using it can help keep it in good condition for selling.
But even if your phone is broken, you can still make some money from it.
GET THE BEST PRICE: There are dozens of online mobile phone buying companies that will give you cash for your model.
However, rather than getting a quote from each you can use a comparison site to see which will give you the most.
It’s also worth trying a couple of different comparison sites as each works with different companies.
Try sellmymobile.com or comparemymobile.com.
If you find a price you are happy with, selling the phone through one of these firms is relatively easy.
Or once you have a rough value, you could get a slightly higher price by trying to sell it yourself through a secondhand selling site such as eBay.
If you sell through Facebook marketplace you won’t even have to worry about sending through the post as buyers will come and collect.
Just bear in mind, this method can take longer.
BEFORE PARTING WAYS: Your Sim card holds personal data so it’s important to remove it from your phone before sending it off.
Sign out of Apple or Google accounts on the phone.
And you should also wipe data from the phone by doing a factory reset, which will take the handset back to the condition when you first bought it
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The world’s top 10 most beautiful dog breeds have been revealed, according to science, so does your pooch make the cut?
EVERY pet parent thinks their furry friend is the cutest creature on the planet.
And thanks to a recent scientific study, the top 10 most beautiful dog breeds have been officially named.
Scientists have used an ancient Greek formula of “physical perfection” to determine the most beautiful dog breeds in the world, reports the Daily Mail.
This Golden Ratio of Beauty, a mathematical calculation, devised by the Greeks but has proven accurate for centuries, has previously been used to calculate the most attractive celebrities.
Celebrities such as Aaron Taylor Johnson, Paul Mescal, and Robert Pattinson ranked among the top male stars in the world.
The desired ratio is roughly 1:1.618 and compares the measurements, ratios, and symmetry of facial features to determine beauty.
Leonardo Da Vinci used the mathematical principle to create the perfect human male body in his famous work, the Vitruvian Man.
And now, the practice has been used for perhaps the most important task yet, determining the cutest canines out there.
Experts at Money.co.uk applied the ancient principle to various dog breeds.
The closer to 100%, the more a breed represents a “mathematical distillation of beauty” with its “statistically perfect proportions”.
Cairn Terrier – 88.7%
Ranking number one is Scotland’s Cairn Terrier, which received an impressive golden ratio score of 88.7%.
This breed, which originated in the Scottish Highlands, is known for its foxy expression, small, pointy ears and raggedy outer coat.
The beloved dog is often associated with the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz.
Dorothy’s cute canine sidekick Toto was played by a Cairn.
West Highland White Terrier – 87.5%
In a close second place is another beloved Scottish breed, the West Highland White Terrier, also known as the “Westie”.
Slightly shorter than a Cairn Terrier, Westies are known for their energetic personalities.
The breed has been historically bred to hunt rodents but have still been described as being a little stubborn, making them difficult to train.
How is the Golden Ratio measured?
Renaissance era artists and architects used this equation, also known as Phi, to create their masterpieces.
Scientists adapted the mathematical formula, which equates to 1/1.618, to explain what makes a face beautiful.
The length and the width of the face is measured and then the results are divided.
Measurements are then taken from the hairline to the spot between the eyes, from the spot between the eyes and the bottom of the nose and from the bottom of the nose to the chin.
A person is considered to be more beautiful if the numbers are equal.
It is immediately identifiable by its dense, white coat, and has a confident, independent, and inquisitive nature.
Border Collie – 86.7%
Rounding out the podium positions, the Border Collie received an impressive rating of 86.7%.
They were originally bred as working dogs and are known for herding livestock, especially sheep.
Border Collies have a more pronounced snout than the top two terriers, and have floppy triangular ears and oval eyes.
They are known for their intelligence and capable of learning a significant number of commands.
Rhodesian Ridgeback – 86%
With an even 86%, the Rhodesian Ridgeback ranks number four in the world.
The large breed originates from southern Africa, bred to hunt large game, including lions.
Rhodesian Ridgebacks have a strong and muscular build, with a highly active energy.
They have a symmetrical outline, down to their perfectly proportioned floppy ears.
The breed’s features include a long and pronounced muzzle and deep eyes with arched brows.
Welsh Terrier – 85.9%
The Welsh Terrier, known for its distinctive face, received a beauty rating of 85.9%.
They have a compact and sturdy build with an iconic rectangular head.
Their facial features include erect ears, bushy eyebrows, and a bushy beard.
This breed is known for its alert personality and workmanlike mentality.
Weimaraner – 85.6%
This large elegant-looking breed was rated number six on the top 10 list, with a result of 85.6%.
The Weimaraner has a distinctive silvery-grey coat as well as big velvety ears and a thin build.
They have been nicknamed the “grey ghost”, and are historically linked with Germany’s nobility.
Weirmaraners have a strong, muscular, and athletic build with an earnest expression.
Experts at the American Kennel Club described the breed as “a breathtaking sight”.
Tolling Retriever – 85%
Tolling Retrievers, which originate in Canada, received a beauty rating of 85%.
The smallest of all the retriever breeds, “Tollers” have a fox-like head and a rich orange or red colour.
Their fur often features white markings around the feet and the face.
Tolling Retrievers also have almond-shaped eyes which project an alert expression.
Italian Greyhound – 84.9%
The Italian Greyhound, known for its large eyes and long neck, received a rating of 84.9%.
They have small, elongated, and narrow head features, including softly folded ears.
Their long, thin legs give them a high stepping gait, giving them an elegant appearance.
This breed originates from ancient Egypt, where their mummified remains were found entombed with pharaohs.
Norfolk Terrier – 84.3%
The small yet feisty Norfolk Terrier was placed ninth on the list, with a result of 84.4%.
With a substantial and hardy face, this British breed is the smallest of the working terriers.
They were historically trained to hunt small rodents and other vermin.
Norfolk Terriers have a wedge-shaped muzzle and strong jaw, with dark eyes and a rough coat.
Pembroke Welsh Corgi – 83.9%
Rounding off the list is the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, with a 83.9% rating.
A favourite of Queen Elizabeth II, this breed has an alert, intelligent expression and fairly wide skull.
However, it is probably most recognisable for its erect ears, elongated body, and disproportionately short legs.
And at the bottom of all the dog breeds were the Shih Tzu at 41.0%, the Bullmastiff at 48.7%, the French Bulldog at 54.3%, the Bulldog at 56.3%, and the Rottweiler at 60.0%.
Kobbie Mainoo ‘set to REJECT Man Utd contract and move abroad’ with club desperate to ease PSR fears
KOBBIE MAINOO is sensationally set to REJECT a bumper new deal with Manchester United, it’s been claimed.
And the Red Devils academy graduate is said to be open to a move ABROAD.
The United brass initiated talks over a new deal last year, although they’ve yet to bear fruit.
Mainoo has two years left on his existing deal at Old Trafford.
But according to reports, he’s willing to end his love affair with United and move on to pastures new.
That’s according to The Guardian, who claim the 20-year-old is open to the idea of playing in a foreign league.
United are, however, said to be quietly confident of Mainoo putting pen to paper.
But they will be willing to cash in on the England international if push comes to shove.
The Red Devils will demand at least £70million for the midfielder, who broke into the first team during Erik ten Hag‘s reign as manager.
Mainoo is currently one of United’s lowest earners, taking home a mere £20,000 a week.
It’s understood his team want his wages to reflect his standing in the team.
But just last month, new United gaffer Ruben Amorim admitted the Three Lions star could be sold in order to help the club balance the books.
He said: “Our idea is always to keep our best players but we also know that it is a difficult situation for the club, a hard moment.
“I am really happy with Kobbie — he is improving all the time.
“My players are always my favourite players and I always like to keep them — especially the talented ones.”
The Portuguese, however, recently challenged Mainoo to earn the pay rise he seeks.
Amorim said: “Kobbie has been improving a lot over the last few matches.
“But I think you guys feel like he is the finished product — he is not.
“He is really good but can be so much better. He has so much potential to grow up even more.”
Mainoo and his United team-mates will be back in action on Sunday, welcoming Arsenal to the Theatre of Dreams.
Axed Emmerdale actress takes cryptic swipe at ITV soap after she was killed off just three years on from debut
AN axed Emmerdale actress has taken a cryptic swipe at the ITV soap after she was brutally killed off.
Last month fans watched as Suzy Merton died after the long-running soap’s tragic limo crash.
A whopping ten residents were left fighting for their lives, but in emotional scenes Suzy didn’t make it.
The character, played by Martelle Edinborough, died after violently hitting her head on site.
Now, Martelle appears to have taken a swipe at the soap as she took to social media following her axe.
Sharing a professional snap with fans, she wrote: “Some doors close cos your spirit outgrew the room.”
The apparent did at Emmerdale bosses wasn’t unnoticed by fans who said she shouldn’t have been killed off.
One replied: “You are missed…”
A second wrote: “Hope many doors open for you Martelle! Gutted about Suzy on Emmerdale really wanted to see her get with Mary. Best of luck for the future.”
“There was so much potential for a Mary/Suzy story line. I’m disappointed it wasn’t explored more,” said a third.
While a fourth commented: “I hope many doors will open for you. May your light always shine bright.”
Martelle Edinborough previously starred in rival soaps before she joined the Yorkshire Dales in 2022.
She began her acting career in 2016 and she managed to bag several roles on the small screen, particularly in shows such as Doctors and Hollyoaks.
But in 2018, Martelle got a thorough introduction to the ups and downs of life in soapland as she joined the Coronation Street line-up for the first time.
During her first stint in the cobbles, Martelle took on the role of a court clerk and appeared at the trial of Anna Windass, who wounded Seb Franklin with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.
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Horror accident halts filming of Tom Cruise’s latest movie as top star hospitalised with ‘major injury’
FILMING of Tom Cruise’s latest movie ground to halt when a leading male cast member suffered a horror injury on the set.
The incident at Pinewood Studios, Bucks, put the unnamed star in hospital with injuries to his pelvis and leg.
It is a major setback to the production of the film — working title Judy — in which Cruise, 62, plays a megalomaniac who is the most powerful man in the world and tries to save humanity.
John Goodman, Jesse Plemons and Riz Ahmed also appear.
An insider said it had has echoes of when Cruise broke his ankle performing a rooftop jump stunt — halting filming on Mission Impossible: Fallout in 2018.
The source added: “The actor is renowned for loving spectacular stunts which obviously involve some element of danger and the risk of injury – though they always strive to keep any risk to an absolute minimum.
“This incident won’t just be alarming in terms of having someone so famous suffer such a major injury, it will also prove costly on a project which has cost millions and is on a very tight schedule.”
For the movie — due to be released in October 2026 — Cruise has teamed up with Mexican filmmaker Alejandro González Iñárritu.
He won Best Director Oscars in consecutive years for Birdman and The Revenant.
It was also hoped that Judy, which has been filming for almost two months, would be a contender for some Academy Award nods.
‘Growing up in our yard was a great contraceptive!’ – Sam Twiston-Davies on working with his family at Cheltenham hopes
AS concerning as it is to contemplate, jockey Sam Twiston-Davies is now an elder statesman in the weighing room.
It only feels like a few years ago he was the emerging teenage pin-up star who would be scooped up by Paul Nicholls and ride a hatful of big-race winners. Where has the time gone?
Sam turned 32 in October and, while many past and present colleagues would be giving off grizzled veteran vibes at this stage, he still has all the same enthusiasm for the sport and for life he had 15 years ago.
Maybe dad Nigel’s rocky relationship history and the fact Sam (right) has decided against settling down and starting a family has something to do with it!
He grinned: “Growing up in our yard was probably the best contraceptive invented.
“Willy and I have seen Nige get married three times and it’s quite an expensive thing to do — so we will only go down that path when it’s absolutely 100 per cent the right time!”
The Twiston-Davies family are very much a part of jump racing’s fabric and they have always been popular with punters.
‘Nige’, who started training in 1981, is a man of few words, in the nicest possible way you can’t shut Sam up once he gets going, and younger brother Willy is somewhere in the middle.
They are all very different personalities, but that’s what makes it work so well.
Sam continued: “It’s very entertaining and never boring. We aren’t afraid to have strong conversations and speak our mind.
“Everyone’s family bickers and ours is no different. Some days Willy and I would say to Nige, ‘What the hell are you doing?’
“Others he’d be right about something and he’d let us know it. I think we have helped keep the fire in his belly with the training side of things — but he also has a young family and he has to be out working and staying healthy. I can’t imagine him ever wanting to stop.”
Asking Nige to change at this point in his life would be like asking a lion to consider becoming a vegan. It ain’t happening.
And it was perfectly illustrated when he unexpectedly decided to run their Grade 1 winning novice Potters Charm at Cheltenham on Trials Day . . . against the advice of Willy and Sam.
Nige has never been one to leave a horse standing in their box if there is a race to be won, but when he was turned over by Sixmilebridge the simmering tension became a full-blown row.
Sam said: “I was probably the one that set it all off. Willy got the brunt of my frustration, and then he went back and gave it to dad in the paddock and it kicked off a bit, apparently it carried on all the way back to the car park!
“Willy and I threw our toys out of the pram which was probably a bit childish as we are a team. But we always make up in the end.”
It would be hard not to make up with Sam, in fairness, as he has always come across as one of the game’s good guys.
But he is now one of the sport’s senior jockeys so, given the way the weighing room historically governs itself, has he had to change his approach with his colleagues?
He said: “It’s scary where the time goes but the weighing room is a very different place to when I started.
“Back then you had the likes of AP McCoy and Dickie Johnson, and then there were the scary ones like Warren Marston and Jimmy McCarthy.
“There were a lot of senior jockeys and every one had a different demeanour, so you’d have to think about who you’d approach and what you’d say.
“Nowadays it’s more chilled out. Anyone can speak to anyone.
“Everyone knows I’m an open book, I can take the piss and have the piss taken out of me. But I know I’m one of the established jockeys and I can speak both languages if a serious conversation needs to be had, but we deal with things in a much more relaxed way.
“The old unwritten rules are much more spoken about now. Our communication in the weighing room and on the track is much better than it was.”
That communication will be put to the test at Cheltenham, with not just prize-money but points for the David Power Jockeys Cup, for which Sam is currently third in the table, on offer.
The winning jockey takes home a huge £500,000, while the second and third scoop six figures.
Sam smiled: “It is a scary amount of money – knowing me I’d probably blow it all up the wall. We like to have a good time around here.”
No doubt they’ll be partying at Twiston-Davies towers if one of their Festival team is on target.
He added: “The pressure is off a bit with Potters Charm now, but he is in seriously good form and I think he is a big player.
“And I know dad fancies Broadway Boy in the Ultima. He wasn’t at it last time, but he seems to have turned a corner.”
There is also the small matter of James Owen’s East India Dock, the current favourite in Friday’s Triumph Hurdle.
Sam continued: “He will be the shortest-priced horse I’ve ridden at the Festival in a while.
“He has looked brilliant this year and there is more to come. I respect the opposition but it will take a good one to beat us.”
Sam is part of the David Power Jockeys’ Cup, a new Jump jockeys competition, worth over £1m in prize money. Visit jockeyscup.com or follow @jockeyscup for more info
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