Fondly nicknamed 'The Duke', Nicholson retired in 1999 having taken out his first training licence in 1968.

Nicholson's nephew, Newmarket trainer James Fanshawe, said: "He had been having problems with his chest and died on the way back from hospital. He had a real passion for racing and was very good to a lot of people, including me.”

Racing was clearly in Nicholson's blood and he left school early in order to pursue a riding career as an apprentice to his father 'Frenchie'.

Having ridden his first winner from his very first ride at Chepstow in 1955, he went onto partner over 600 winners in a career spanning just over 20 years.

Despite his success in the saddle, Nicholson really made a name for himself when following in his father’s footsteps as a trainer.

He obtained his first licence in 1968 before officially handing over to his assistant Alan King late in 1999.

Nicholson’s move to Jackdaw’s Castle early in the 1990s proved the catalyst for his elevation into the training elite and he saddled almost half his total winners in the seven years he spent there before retiring.

Prior to that move, Charter Party’s success in the 1988 Cheltenham Gold Cup provided a major highlight, while Viking Flagship’s battling victories in the Queen Mother Champion Chase of 1994 and 1995 will also live long in the memory.

Those triumphs coincided with ‘The Duke’ being crowned champion National Hunt trainer in 1993-4 and retaining that title the following season.