Adrian Chamberlain

Article by Alan Trout

Born on October 10, 1957, Adrian John Chamberlain rode five winners as an amateur before turning professional in 1983 and adding another two. 

His first victory was at Taunton on February 14, 1980, when the eight-year-old Favourite Fella, owned and trained by Adrian, beat Damside by two lengths in the Wadham Stringer Hunters’ Chase. 

There was one more win that season for the Swindon-based trainer/jockey before the season ended but then he had to wait more than two years for a third success. He had already ridden Bannockburn to one victory and the hurdler provided him with two of his three wins in the 1982/83 campaign. 

Having turned professional he had one success in each of his first two seasons. His first victory in the paid ranks was at Bangor-on-Dee on November 8, 1983, when the by then 11-year-old Favourite Fella finished strongly to overtake Burelor and land the Ellesmere Handicap Chase by half a length. 

There was then a gap before his final success which came at Newton Abbot on September 13, 1984, when Indian Isle had to be ridden out to hold the challenge of Miss Shamrock at the end of the Bideford Selling Hurdle.

Adrian passed the post first on Tiarum at Taunton on January 23, 1986 but the four-year-old was later disqualified after a prohibited substance was found in his urine.

Having retired from race-riding in the early 1990s, he continued his training operation, based at North End Farm, Ashton Keynes, Swindon, finally relinquishing his licence in 2013. 

Adrian Chamberlain’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Favourite Fella, Taunton, February 14, 1980

2. Bannockburn, Market Rasen, May 17, 1980

3. Beau Wynk, Market Rasen, August 2, 1982

4. Bannockburn, Bangor-on-Dee, September 8, 1982

5. Bannockburn, Fontwell Park, September 8, 1982

6. Favourite Fella, Bangor-on-Dee, November 8, 1983

7. Indian Isle, Newton Abbot, September 13, 1984