Racing: Nelson's last lap

CHARLIE NELSON saddled a winner at Lingfield yesterday with his final runner before handing in his trainers' licence. Awesome Power's success in the Falling Leaf Handicap was a last flourish for Nelson before he takes a break from training for at least two years.

'We picked our race and it's nice that it worked out,' said Nelson, who trained his first winner in 1977 and whose career highlight was Double Schwartz's victory in the 1986 Prix de l'Abbaye. 'It's been a lousy virus-ridden season and there just isn't enough money about to get hold of decent horses at the moment. I've decided the positive thing to do is to take a break and reorganise myself.'