Adrian Nicholls
Adrian Nicholls was born on July 16, 1981, the son of ‘sprint king’ trainer and former jockey David ‘Dandy’ Nicholls. Apprenticed to his father, he rode his first winner on Fancy A Fortune at Thirsk on August 1, 1997.He won the Ayr Gold Cup twice on Bahamian Pirate in 2000 and Funfair Wane in 2002, both trained by his father. He twice tasted Group 1 glory, firstly when winning the 2009 Sprint Cup at Haydock on Regal Parade, and the then riding the same horse to victory in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville the following summer.
Adrian Nicholls was born on July 16, 1981, the son of ‘sprint king’ trainer and former jockey David ‘Dandy’ Nicholls. Apprenticed to his father, he rode his first winner on Fancy A Fortune at Thirsk on August 1, 1997.He won the Ayr Gold Cup twice on Bahamian Pirate in 2000 and Funfair Wane in 2002, both trained by his father. He twice tasted Group 1 glory, firstly when winning the 2009 Sprint Cup at Haydock on Regal Parade, and the then riding the same horse to victory in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville the following summer.
Among the other good sprinters he partnered for his father were Strike Up The Band, on whom he won the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood in 2005 and the Listed Prix de Bonneval at Chantilly in 2006; and Fire Up The Band, whom he rode to win the Group 3 King George V Stakes at Goodwood and the Listed Chester City Wall Stakes.
Among the other good sprinters he partnered for his father were Strike Up The Band, on whom he won the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood in 2005 and the Listed Prix de Bonneval at Chantilly in 2006; and Fire Up The Band, whom he rode to win the Group 3 King George V Stakes at Goodwood and the Listed Chester City Wall Stakes.
He achieved even greater success on Tax Free, winning 14 times on him including four Group races across three countries, namely a pair of French Group 2 races at Longchamp in 2007 and Chantilly in 2009, the Group 3 Palace House Stakes at Newmarket in 2007, and the Group 3 Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh in 2008. They also won the Listed Naas Sprint two years running in 2007/2008, the Listed Starlit Stakes in 2005 and Newmarket’s Abernant Stakes in 2009.
He achieved even greater success on Tax Free, winning 14 times on him including four Group races across three countries, namely a pair of French Group 2 races at Longchamp in 2007 and Chantilly in 2009, the Group 3 Palace House Stakes at Newmarket in 2007, and the Group 3 Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh in 2008. They also won the Listed Naas Sprint two years running in 2007/2008, the Listed Starlit Stakes in 2005 and Newmarket’s Abernant Stakes in 2009.
Adrian announced his intention to quit the saddle on May 28, 2016, aged 34. He’d intended to have his final ride on Surewecan at Catterick that day but the horse was a late non-runner due to unsuitable ground. Thus, his last ride had been on Blaine at York seven days earlier.
Adrian announced his intention to quit the saddle on May 28, 2016, aged 34. He’d intended to have his final ride on Surewecan at Catterick that day but the horse was a late non-runner due to unsuitable ground. Thus, his last ride had been on Blaine at York seven days earlier.
However, he did get one final chance. On September 13, 2017 Adrian rode Fire Palace in the Leger Legends race for retired jockeys at Doncaster, finishing second, beaten half a length by Brian Harding’s mount Off Art.
However, he did get one final chance. On September 13, 2017 Adrian rode Fire Palace in the Leger Legends race for retired jockeys at Doncaster, finishing second, beaten half a length by Brian Harding’s mount Off Art.
By then he joined the training ranks, based at from a purpose-built yard just a stone’s throw from his father’s old base on the outskirts of Thirsk. Dandy Nicholls had died suddenly in June just weeks after retiring from the training ranks. Adrian’s first runner was Sir Lancelott at Wolverhampton in August 2017.
By then he joined the training ranks, based at from a purpose-built yard just a stone’s throw from his father’s old base on the outskirts of Thirsk. Dandy Nicholls had died suddenly in June just weeks after retiring from the training ranks. Adrian’s first runner was Sir Lancelott at Wolverhampton in August 2017.
He took a while to saddle his first winner as a trainer. Finally, Sir Lancelott ended a six-month wait when successful in an apprentices’ race at Wolverhampton on February 5, 2018. He finished second there just two days later.
He took a while to saddle his first winner as a trainer. Finally, Sir Lancelott ended a six-month wait when successful in an apprentices’ race at Wolverhampton on February 5, 2018. He finished second there just two days later.
Big winners:
Big winners:
2000: Ayr Gold Cup – Bahamian Pirate
2000: Ayr Gold Cup – Bahamian Pirate
2008: Northumberland Plate – Arc Bleu
2008: Northumberland Plate – Arc Bleu
2008: Great St Wilfrid Handicap – Tajneed
2008: Great St Wilfrid Handicap – Tajneed
2009: Haydock Sprint Cup – Regal Parade
2009: Haydock Sprint Cup – Regal Parade
2014: Carlisle Bell – Johnno
2014: Carlisle Bell – Johnno