1957-1975 Major Geoffrey Champneys (Church Farm)
Edward Geoffrey Stanley Champneys, born at Sellindge, between Ashford and Folkestone, launched his training career in 1937, sending out his first winner, Kilwhang who dead-heated in a Novice Chase at Gatwick, although within 2 years it was halted when he served his time in the Army, reaching the rank of Major. Immediately after the War he lived at Wakefield Lodge, Potterbury near Towcester, but in 1946 he resumed his training career at Broad Hinton. In the 1948 Grand National he sent out Zahia (100/1) in the hands of Eddie Reavey, by then his stable jockey, and Zahia finished first passed the post, but unfortunately Eddie had taken the wrong course on the run-in when well clear and was disqualified, the race going to Sheila's Cottage (50/1). In 1950 he had what was probably his most prestigious winner when Norborne won the Grand Annual Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. In 1957 he carried out major work at his Church Farm, Upper Lambourn, building 22 stables, and within a few years one of his best known apprentices, Richard Pitman, joined him. He won the 1963 Lord Stalbridge Memorial Chase at Wincanton with Demaru, and in 1964 the South Hatch Chase at Windsor with Last Shilling 25/1. Towards the end of his career he reflected on his favourite horses and favourite courses. He trained 43 winners at Wincanton, 33 at Fontwell and 24 at Towcester, whilst also winning at countless other tracks now closed, like Hawthorn Hill, Hethersett and Buckfastleigh. His best 7 horses were robin Redvest, Sir Chaucer, Norborne, Rum Chicken, Demaru, True Knight and Riverside with whom he won 102 races. He retired in 1975 and sold Church Farm to a private bidder who eventually also purchased Glenwood, formerly Lynchets, to form Saxon Cottage Stables.
1950 Grand Annual Chase at Cheltenham Festival NORBORNE 8/1 owned by Mr Clark, trained by Major Champneys and ridden by Eddie Reavey
1963 Lord Stalbridge Memorial Chase at Wincanton DEMARU trained by Major Champneys and ridden by Vic Haslem
1964 South Hatch Chase at Windsor LAST SHILLING 25/1 trained by Major Champneys and ridden by Vic Haslem
1967 Hopeful Chase at Stratford WEST OF THE BORDER 15/2 trained by Major Champneys and ridden by Terry Biddlecombe
1968 Fremlins Elephant Chase at Folkestone RIVERSDALE 9/4 jt fav trained by Major Champneys and ridden by Terry Biddlecombe
1972 Bi-Centenary Cup at Hereford THE EDWARDIAN owned by N E James, trained by Major Champneys and ridden by Terry Biddlecombe
Peter Payne-Gallwey, born on 27th July 1906, served in the Royal Horse Artillery and Derbyshire Yeomanry during the Second World War, reaching the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, serving in Tunisia and later training many winners in Egypt. Prior to the outbreak of War he was one of the leading amateur riders of the day, winning the 1933 Grand Military Gold Cup at Sandown on Backsight. His riding career came to abrupt halt after a bad fall in a steeplechase race. Peter trained in Wimborne, Dorset until October 1956 when he transferred to Lambourn, and by 1957 Peter took over the Old Manor which had 22 boxes from which he continued to train, although in 1970 he divided the yard into two, with the second yard of 8 boxes being run independently of the main yard consisting of 14 boxes. That separated yard of 8 boxes would be renamed Lynchets when Patrick Haslam took over in 1972. Payne-Gallwey's most famous horse was Sky Diver which won the highly competitive Stewards Cup Handicap at Glorious Goodwood in consecutive years in 1967 and 1968. He was diagnosed with cancer in 1965 and, although he continued to train, the disease got progressively worse, and he died on Sunday 21st November 1971 leaving a widow and daughter.
Patrick Haslam was born on 10th January 1948 and took out his first trainer's licence in 1971. He began training at Lynchets, Upper Lambourn, which was formerley Old Manor Yard 2 consisting by 1972 of 22 boxes, training on both the flat and National Hunt. Indeed, one of his two main claims to fame was that he trained a winner at every racecourse, although Ffos Las and Chelmsford City opened after he had retired. He transferred to Neardown Stables in 1977 where he remained for a year, and then left Lambourn in 1979 to take over at Pegasus Stables, Newmarket, replacing Michael Jarvis. He won the Bunbury Cup in consecutive years in 1983 and 1984 with Mummy's Pleasure, and the 1983 Richmond Stakes with Godstone. In 1984 he achieved a Royal Ascot success in the Royal Hunt Cup with Hawkley. He departed from Pegasus Stables at the end of the 1988 season, moving to Middleham in North Yorkshire. Thus, he achieved the second of his claims to fame, which is that he trained in all 3 principal training areas in the country, Lambourn, Newmarket and Middleham. He died on 14th October 2017 after a long illness.
Marshalla Taffy Salaman, born in Cardiff on 14th March 1945, was the son of an Arab who worked in Wales which is how Marshalla earned the nickname Taffy. Despite never having ridden before, Taffy joined the stables of Ryan Price in 1960, but his apprenticeship then transferred to Hednesford, Staffordshire where Earl Jones trained. He rode his first horse at Chepstow in 1962, but did not partner his first winner, Milky Way at Taunton, until 3rd February 1968. Arguably his most high-profile winner as a jockey was aboard Dulwich in the 1974 Grand Annual Chase at Cheltenham for trainer Colin Davies having already partnered the same horse in 4 previous wins. While Dulwich repeated the win in the 1976 Grand Annual Chase, this time he was partnered by Bob Davies. Taffy had his first ride in the Grand National in 1974 where Sixer was brought down at the fourth fence behind legendary winner Red Rum, and by 1975 he had launched his training career in Wales. The most famous horse he was associated with as a trainer was Churchtown Boy, saddling him to success in the 1977 Topham Trophy at Aintree having ridden him in the 1976 Grand National when finishing 11th at 33/1 behind Rag Trade. He moved his training enterprise to Lambourn in March 1977, saddling Churchtown Boy in the 1977 Grand National after the Topham Trophy success. That year the horse finished 2nd at 20/1 behind Red Rum when ridden by Martin Blackshaw. By 1978, and still in Lambourn, he was at Lynchets training for the likes of singer Dorothy Squires and, once again, ran Churchtown Boy (14/1) in the Grand National piloted by Martin Blackshaw, but he fell at the 15th fence. In 1979 Taffy Salaman was training at Stork House Stables and decided to dust down his riding boots and partner Churchtown Boy (25/1) in the Grand National, but he fell at the 22nd, Bechers Brook on the second circuit.
1979 Nick Gaselee (Glenwood, formerly Lynchets)
Nick Gaselee purchased Glenwood, formerly Lynchets, in 1979 when it consisted of 22 boxes and a small bungalow. In 1990 he sold it to a private buyer, but was able to lease back the 22 boxes and combine it with the 22 boxes of Church Farm, also owned by the same private buyer, renaming it Saxon Cottage stables. Nick rented Saxon Cottage itself from Kath Walwyn, with Kath living in the other half of the cottage. Kath Walwyn died on 21st January 2023 aged 94, but Nick still lives in Saxon Cottage.
1976-2004 Nick Gaselee 44 stables
Nick Auriol Digby Charles Gaselee, born in Marylebone on 30th January 1939, son of an Army Colonel, enjoyed a successful riding career as an amateur, riding more than a century of winners, but also served in the Life Guards between 1958 and 1963. His first winner, at Folkestone's United Hunt meeting on 24th April 1961, was aboard One-Eyed Gunner in the Cuckoo Hunters Chase, but he went on to win some of the most prestigious races in the amateur jockeys Calendar. His most successful year was in 1967 when he won both the Kim Muir Chase at the Cheltenham Festival aboard Chu-The 9/2 owned by Mrs M McMeekin and trained by Ken Cundell, and the Foxhunters Challenge Cup Chase on Mulbarton evens fav owned and trained by I Pattullo. He then spent 5 years as Fulke Walwyn's assistant at Saxon House stables before launching his own training career in 1976. He initially trained at Newlands Stables, Upper Lambourn, also making use of Church Farm (22 stables) for a prolonged period from 1976. In 1979 he needed additional space and also made use of Glenwood, Upper Lambourn, formerly Lynchets (22 stables). By 1979 Nick had combined Church Farm and Glenwood, formerly Lynchets into a 44 stable block yard. In 1990 Church Farm, in its various forms which included the Old Manor No2 Yard, later Lynchets and Glenwood, became known as Saxon Cottage stables with 44 boxes, where Nick had celebrated winning two Reynoldstown Chases in 3 years, firstly with Duke of Milan in 1984, followed by Bolands Cross in 1986.
In 1988 Private Views won countless high-class chases, notably the Hopeful Chase at Newbury, the Cathcart Challenge Cup Chase at Cheltenham and the Steel Plate and sections Young Chasers Final at Cheltenham. However, Nick will best be remembered for guiding Party Politics to Aintree Grand National success in 1992 when partnered by Carl Llewellyn. Although the horse contested 3 more Grand Nationals afterwards, finishing unplaced in 1993 and 1996, he did manage to be runner-up in 1995 behind the Jenny Pitman trained Royal Athlete. Nick retired from the training ranks in April 2004.
1984 Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot DUKE OF MILAN 11/4 trained by Nick Gasleee and ridden by Steve Smith Eccles
1986 Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot BOLANDS CROSS 2/1 fav owned by Sheikh Ali Abu Khamsin, trained by Nick Gaselee and ridden by Peter Scudamore
1986 Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown BERLIN 11/8 owned by David Stoddart, trained by Nick Gaselee and ridden by Dermot Browne
1987 Halloween Chase at Newbury PRIVATE VIEWS 6/1 owned by David Stoddart, trained by Nick Gaselee and ridden by Kevin Mooney
1987 Hopeful Chase at Newbury PRIVATE VIEWS 3/1 owned by David Stoddart, trained by Nick Gaselee and ridden by Kevin Mooney
1987 Silber Buck Chase Limited Handicap at Wincanton BOLANDS CROSS 10/11 fav owned by Sheikh Ali Abu Khamsin, trained by Nick Gaselee and ridden by Peter Scudamore
1987 Fred Withington Chase at Cheltenham PRIVATE VIEWS 8/13 fav owned by David Stoddart, trained by Nick Gaselee and ridden by Brendan Powell
1988 Steel Plate & Sections Young Chasers Chase Qualifier at Cheltenham PRIVATE VIEWS 4/7 fav owned by David Stoddart, trained by Nick Gaselee and ridden by Kevin Mooney
1988 Cathcart Challenge Cup Chase at Cheltenham PRIVATE VIEWS 7/1 owned by David Stoddart, trained by Nick Gaselee and ridden by Brendan Powell
I am grateful to Richard Morris-Adams for the photo of Duke of Milan shown below:-
Duke of Milan
One of Nick Gaselee's best horses was Duke of Milan, an ex-Irish gelding owned by Brill resident Richard Morris-Adams. Richard, and his wife Jink, loved racing at Ascot and were members at Cheltenham for some considerable time, so it was a dream come true when their hurdler won 2 races at Ascot and one at Cheltenham, and justly contested the 1983 Sun Alliance Novice Hurdle at the Festival meeting, although he was unplaced at 33/1 behind Sabin Du Loir. It was as a chaser that Duke of Milan made a name for himself, making a promising debut in the Halloween Novices Chase at Newbury when finishing second to Voice of Progress. That acted as a springboard to him winning the 1983 Feltham Novices Chase at the annual Kempton Christmas meeting. He followed that up with wins in the 1984 Reynoldstown Novice Chase at Ascot and the Embassy Premier Chase Qualifier at the same track. At the 1984 Cheltenham Festival meeting the Duke 9/1 ran a very creditable 4th in the Sun Alliance Chase behind A Kinsman 10/1 who he had beaten earlier in the season. In 1985 Duke of Milan won the Holsten Lager handicap Chase at Sandown and the prestigious Silver Buck Handicap Chase at Wincanton. After a lengthy break the Duke won the 1987 South Wales Showers Mira Handicap Chase ridden by Simon Sherwood, bringing to an end his series of wins.
1982 Behrens Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham DUKE OF MILAN 12/1 owned by Richard Morris-Adams, trained by Nick Gaselee and ridden by Steve Smith-Eccles
1982 Bingley Novice Hurdle at Ascot DUKE OF MILAN 6/1 owned by Richard Morris-Adams, trained by Nick Gaselee and ridden by Steve Smith-Eccles
1983 Lily Tree Novices Hurdle at Ascot DUKE OF MILAN 6/1 owned by Richard Morris-Adams, trained by Nick Gaselee and ridden by Steve Smith-Eccles
1983 Feltham Novices Chase at Kempton DUKE OF MILAN 9/4 owned by Richard Morris-Adams, trained by Nick Gaselee and ridden by Peter Scudamore
1984 Reynoldstown Novice Chase at Ascot DUKE OF MILAN 11/4 owned by Richard Morris-Adams, trained by Nick Gaselee and ridden by Steve Smith-Eccles
1984 Embassy Premier Chase Qualifier at Ascot DUKE OF MILAN 7/4 owned by Richard Morris-Adams, trained by Nick Gaselee and ridden by Steve Smith-Eccles
1985 Holsten Lager Handicap Chase at Sandown DUKE OF MILAN evens fav owned by Richard Morris-Adams, trained by Nick Gaselee and ridden by Steve Smith-Eccles
1985 Silver Buck Handicap Chase at Wincanton DUKE OF MILAN 4/9 fav owned by Richard Morris-Adams, trained by Nick Gaselee and ridden by Steve Smith-Eccles
1987 South Wales Showers Mira Handicap Chase at Cheltenham DUKE OF MILAN 11/2 owned by Richard Morris-Adams, trained by Nick Gaselee and ridden by Simon Sherwood
1988 Steel Plate & Sections Young Chasers Chase Final at Cheltenham PRIVATE VIEWS 8/13 fav owned by David Stoddart, trained by Nick Gaselee and ridden by Kevin Mooney
1989 Marsh Benham Handicap Chase at Newbury PRIVATE VIEWS 9/4 owned by Mrs G Webb Bronfman, trained by Nick Gaselee and ridden by Brendan Powell
1992 Aintree Grand National PARTY POLITICS 14/1 owned by David Stoddart, trained by Nick Gaselee and ridden by Carl Llewellyn
1993 Greenalls Gold Cup at Haydock PARTY POLITICS 16/1 owned by David Stoddart, trained by Nick Gaselee and ridden by Carl Llewellyn
1993 Rehearsal Chase at Chepstow PARTY POLITICS 11/2 owned by David Stoddart, trained by Nick Gaselee and ridden by Carl Llewellyn
1994 National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup at Cheltenham CHRISTMAS GORSE 14/1 owned by David Stoddart, trained by Nick Gaselee and ridden by Marcus Amytage
James Anthony Osborne, born on 28th August 1967, was raised in Yorkshire into a family well-connected to racing. His father, Tony, used to hunt and became a Director at the beautiful Market Rasen racecourse in Lincolnshire, and from an early age Jamie remembers riding ponies. He looked forward to his Summer holiday breaks from education, working in the yards of masters of their trade, David Nicholson at Jackdaw's Castle and Josh Gifford at Findon, and after completing his compulsory education he rode as an amateur at Harry Wharton's stables, riding his first winner for that trainer on 29th March 1986 when Fair Bavard won the Calverton Handicap Hurdle for Amateur Riders at Southwell, and then joined the Castleford stables of Chris Bell. The next year, 1987, having accumulated 14 winners as an amateur, he joined the Nicky Henderson yard in Lambourn and turned professional, although the decision was a gamble given that many more jockeys were higher up the pecking order at Henderson's at that time. In mid-April 1989 he struck up a working relationship with Oliver Sherwood at Rhonehurst Stables when Oliver's brother Simon decided to retire from race riding and later joined the training ranks, and the next season he partnered Arctic Call to win the Hennessey Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury. For a full rundown of Jamie's career visit Kingsdown Stables or Old Malthouse Stables. In Spring 1999 he married his long-time partner, the artist Kate O'Sullivan at Newbury Registry Office and they have one daughter, Saffie, who followed her father as a jockey. He took out a Trainer's Licence in 1999 with a view to renting 50 boxes at Kingsdown Stables, Upper Lambourn once Mick Channon upped sticks and moved to West Ilsley. Jamie spent a few years at Kingsdown, and even took some boxes at Saxon Cottage Stables in 2005 before he transferred to The Old Malthouse Stables, also in Upper Lambourn, but has now incorporated Church Farm and Glenwood boxes into his main Old Malthouse Stables.
PARTY POLITICS (1992 Aintree Grand National)
DUKE OF MILAN (1984 Reynoldstown Novices Chase, 1983 Feltham Novices Chase)
PRIVATE VIEWS (1988 Cathcart Challenge Cup, 1987 Hopefil Chase)
BERLIN (1986 Tingle Creek Chase)
BOLANDS CROSS (1986 Reynoldstown Chase)
