Adrian Nicholls
Adrian Nicholls Racing is a family-run business and the home of happy horses. Based in Thirsk, the home of the renowned Thirsk Racecourse, we provide unique, top-quality horse training facilities and the highest standard of care.
We go back a long way with Adrian Nicholls, from times when he we had up to 20 horses in training with his late father, Dandy. He rode dozens and dozens of winners for us, names like Fremen, Abbondanza, Victoire De Lyphar, Blackheath, Something, Royal Dignitary, American Cousin, Fol Hollow and Magic Casement, to name but a few. He was a very shrewd tactician in a race, derived, most probably, from his very shrewd father, so when he turned his hand to training, from his Dad’s old base near Sessay, Thirsk, we weren’t at all surprised to see him make a great fist of it.
Adrian Nicholls himself has lived and breathed horses since the day he was born. At a young age, he received the nickname “trotter” as he trotted behind his Father Dandy’s (David Nicholls) every step when he went racing with him.
As he turned 15, he found a loophole in the age restrictions and went to start riding in Norway. After 3 months of racing, he teamed up with Barry Hills at his legendary stables as a stable apprentice. After working there for a year and a half, he learnt a great deal from this reputable man.
Then, Adrian was offered a role at Kingsclere Stables as a stable apprentice to Derby winning trainer, Ian Balding. This presented a huge learning curve for him, learning about all aspects of racing! Within 3 years, Adrian rode out his claim in the Ayr Gold Cup.
Adrian continued his upward rise in the weighing room, riding multiple groups and listed winners including 2 Group 1’s. This was his highlight of a career which expanded over 19 years, riding all over the world with winners in 12 countries along the way. Throughout this time, he was learning all the different ways to train and provide horse care.