A legend retires.

[NoChanceToDance]

by Tony Elves


DAVID NICHOLLS doubts very much whether the last has been seen of the legendary David Chapman despite his announcement on Wednesday that he is to stand down from the training ranks at the end of January.

Chapman was instrumental in nurturing Nicholls' talents as jockey and the lessons learned during his time at his Stillington stabes in Yorkshire have certainly not been lost on the Thirsk handler who has displayed his own prowess, particularly with horses in the sprint division.

Nicholls said: “He already knows I wish him all the best - he won't be retiring soon and will be thereabouts don't you worry.”

Chapman will be handing over the reins to his granddaughter Ruth Carr after holding a training licence for 40-years.

Nicholls was attached to the stable for several years and was the only jockey ever to win on Chapman's flying filly Soba, who landed 11 of her 14 starts in 1982 and made 13 with two victories the following season.

Nicholls said: “David and his wife Marion were like parents to me for a long time andhe's kept going as a trainer for 40 years and he's done well.

“Soba was the best I rode and she was a brilliant sprinter who was handled perfectly by him. You didn't get a let of orders from him and he would just let you get on with your job which was to ride.

“He never changes and Mrs Chapman always kept a track on him. He was a good man to learn from as he is a very good feeder and a very good placer of horses and hopefully that has rubbed off on me.”
Chapman's North Yorkshire training colleague Mick Easterby also offered a personal tribute to his long-time friend by highlighting not only his ability and decency but also a lack of vision and dusty wallet.
"He's a brilliant man, unassuming and quiet," said Easterby on Wednesday.

"He's also been short-sighted for years. Whenever we're at the sales, I have to lend him my glasses. Very short-sighted, he is. He's also very careful, and he'll like me saying that - he's quite near to his pennies."

Chapman's star performers

Soba
Made all to win the Stewards' Cup in 1982 before taking the King George Stakes. Second in the Diadem, the King's Stand, the July Cup, the Vernon's Sprint Cup and the Prix de l'Abbaye.

Chaplins Club
Won seven handicaps in 17 days, nine handicaps in a season in two different years, which was then a post-1900 British Flat record and won a total of 24 times, his final success coming on his 160th and final start.

Glencroft
Seventeen wins in 88 starts. Described by Chapman as one of the cheapest purchases he ever made, the gelding matched Chaplins Club's record by also winning nine handicaps in a season.

Higham Grey
Won 16 races, including his debut, at 33-1. As well known in the weighing room for his ability to drop jockeys before and even after his races.

Quito
Twenty wins in 118 starts. Won seven Listed contests, the Ayr Gold Cup, and was second to Reverence in the 2006 Betfred Sprint Cup