Adam Nicol

The highlight of his career so far came on 31 October 2025 at Wetherby, where he landed a top-level Class 1 race — the kind of occasion most trainers at his stage are still dreaming about. It is his only win at that level, which makes it more meaningful, not less. These are the races that define a yard's reputation, and Nicol has already banked one.

Newcastle has become something of a happy hunting ground. Five winners from 22 runners at the track tells you this is not a fluke — that is a trainer who understands the course, knows when to target it, and keeps delivering there. And when the ground turns wet and muddy, he looks even more dangerous: one winner from just three runners on those conditions gives him a 33% win rate in the heavy stuff, a figure that is too small a sample to call definitive, but certainly worth watching.

The partnership with jockey Ryan Mania is the engine room of the operation. Eight wins from 39 rides together — roughly 1 in every 5 — is a genuinely productive relationship, the kind built on trust and clear communication between trainer and rider. Meanwhile, the horse Quercus Robur deserves a mention as a yard favourite: five wins from 25 races together is a record that shows real consistency from both horse and team.

Nicol is still in the early chapters of what looks like a promising story. The jump from 6% to 17% in a single season suggests a trainer who has figured something out — in his horses, his entries, or both. If that curve continues, this is a yard worth keeping a very close eye on.