Nicholls pays tribute to Nunthorpe winner Bahamian Pirate

Adrian Nicholls has paid tribute to Bahamian Pirate following the death of the horse who put him on the map as a jockey and who was virtually a pet to his young family.

The 22-year-old son of Housebuster was trained by Nicholls' father David to win the Ayr Gold Cup in 2000 at 33-1 as a five-year-old and the Group 1 Nunthorpe four years later.

He ran 104 times in total, winning 12 – and his final victory coming at that age. He amassed £478,337 in prize-money in a nine-year career before retiring to live out his days with Nicholls and his family.