1992-2012 Kate Walton
Kate Walton (nee Hall) is steeped in racing history being the daughter of legendary Middleham trainer Sam Hall, niece of the late trainer Tom Hall, first cousin of Brecongill maestro Sally Hall, and niece of the Handicapping King of his day, Charlie Hall, who won the November Handicap 5 times, the Ebor 3 times, and the Lincoln and Wokingham twice apiece. However, none of these Halls were related to Harry Hall, the former Spigot Lodge trainer. To say that horse racing is in her DNA is an understatement, so it was no surprise when she decided to train on her own licence in 1992, sending out her first winner, Northumbrian King, with just her second entry. Northumbrian King won two point-to-point races at Charm Park and Great Stainton before a promising 2 length second to Bertie Boy at Southwell, but then won the Monty Shine Memorial Chase at Huntingdon in the hands of Grand National winning jockey Marcus Armytage, following up a few days later at Market Rasen in the Grimsby Town FC Hunters Chase. The horse went on to reward Kate with further wins at Newcastle, Wetherby and Ayr. Kate was based at Sharp Hill Farm, located in beautiful North Yorkshire countryside near to Middleham Reservoir, with her husband Peter and their two children, Sam and Nicky, and she operated as a permit trainer until the start of 2003, after which she successfully applied for a licence, and ran a dual-purpose yard. In 1995 she guided Gemikosix to 3 consecutive victories at Sedgefield, Perth and Market Rasen, but 5 years later, on 24th March 2000, Kate was on the gallops with, amongst others, Gemikosix, when a loose 3-year-old filly ran towards them leaving Kate in hospital with mouth injuries and a number of broken teeth, Gemikosix largely unscathed, but the filly died from her injuries. In October 2000 Chris Thornton, then based at Spigot Lodge, announced that he would base himself at a section of Sharp Hill Farm, in a brand new 25-box converted barn, and would make the move once the work on it was completed, probably in early 2001. In the interim he rented stables from John Weymes. Kate had 10 horses in 2003, which increased to a dozen the next year, but by 2006 she was up to 17. She achieved a remarkable result in the North West Masters Handicap Chase at Carlisle on 12th November 2006 when her Datito 16/1 beat her Huka Lodge 14/1 by half a length, with the straight forecast paying almost 200/1. One of the most thrilling races involving one of Kate's horses was the 2007 Great Sefton Chase at Aintree when Jimmy Bond 16/1 earned £13,000 for a second place, albeit 8 lengths behind shock 66/1 winner Lampion Du Bost. In 2007 Kate managed to conjure three consecutive wins out of Nevertika, including victory in the One Man Chase at Wetherby, while in the same year she enjoyed a 32/1 double at Hexham with It's a Roofer and Super Revo. One of the best ways to advertise the merits of the stable, and its trainer, is by winning on a high-profile day where there is plenty of television coverage, and there is no better stage than on Grand National day at Aintree when Kate won the Grade 2 John Smiths Champion Standard Open National Hunt Flat race with surprise 66/1 winner Sitting Tennant. One of the best horses in the stable between 2009 and 2012 was Morgan Be who ran in three Eider Chases at Newcastle, finishing second in 2009 when beaten half a length by Merigo, then finishing third in 2011 behind Campanero, but was only fifth in 2012 when soundly beaten by Portrait King. In 2011 tragedy struck the Walton family when husband Peter collapsed while driving through nearby Bedale on Friday 21st October and was rushed off to Friarage hospital in Northallerton, but died shortly after arrival.
He was just 59 and had no underlying conditions, was an integral part of the team at Sharp Hill Farm while also running his Chauffer business. Kate was a tower of strength for her family and her team at the stables, despite feeling extreme pain and sorrow, and sent out Rumble of Thunder at Aintree the very next day to land the Betfred Goals Galore Handicap Hurdle, a fitting tribute in honour of Pete. Also, in 2011 Rumble of Thunder won the Listed Prelude Handicap Hurdle at Market Rasen, while in the final year of her training career, 2012, her star horses were Morgan B, who won the Parklands Golf Course Handicap Chase at Newcastle, and Everaard, who landed some nice races, notably the John Smith Stayers Handicap Hurdle at Musselburgh. At the end of 2012 Kate retired and the stable was taken over by Phil Kirby.
1992 Monty Shine Memorial Chase at Huntingdon NORTHUMBRIAN KING 5/2 owned and trained by Kate Walton and ridden by Marcus Armytage
1992 Grimsby Town FC Hunters Chase at Market Rasen NORTHUMBRIAN KING 1/2 fav owned and trained by Kate Walton and ridden by Marcus Armytage
1994 Ulgham Handicap Hurdle at Newcastle NORTHUMBRIAN KING 11/2 owned and trained by Kate Walton and ridden by J Callaghan
1994 Yorkshire Racing Club Handicap Hurdle at Wetherby NORTHUMBRIAN KING 8/1 owned and trained by Kate Walton and ridden by J Callaghan
1994 Harcros Handicap Hurdle Qualifier at Ayr NORTHUMBRIAN KING 16/1 owned and trained by Kate Walton and ridden by D Bentley
1995 Reg Boyle Conditional Jockeys Hurdle at Sedgefield GEMIKOSIX 2/1 owned and trained by Kate Walton and ridden by J Supple
1995 Macdonalds Solicitors Quick Ransom Novices Hurdle at Perth GEMIKOSIX 4/1 owned and trained by Kate Walton and ridden by J Callaghan
1995 AEG Novices Hurdle at Market Rasen GEMIKOSIX 15/8 owned and trained by Kate Walton and ridden by J Callaghan
2006 James Barclay Challenge Trophy at Ayr MORGAN BE 13/8 fav owned by S Breakspeare, trained by Kate Walton and ridden by Richie McGrath
2007 Great North Run Handicap Hurdle at Hexham IT'S A ROOFER 9/2 owned by The Well Oiled Partnership, trained by Kate Walton and ridden by Richie McGrath
2007 Nova International Handicap Chase at Hexham SUPER REVO 5/1 owned by The White Liners, trained by Kate Walton and ridden by Richie McGrath
2007 Arthur Challenge Cup at Ayr MORGAN BE 5/2 fav owned by S Breakspeare, trained by Kate Walton and ridden by Richie McGrath
2007 Acomb Novices Chase at Hexham NEVERTIKA 5/2 jt fav owned by Mrs J M Jones, trained by Kate Walton and ridden by Richie McGrath
2007 One Man Chase at Wetherby NEVERTIKA 5/4 fav owned by Mrs J M Jones, trained by Kate Walton and ridden by Richie McGrath
2007 Janet Hopwood Novices Chase at Doncaster NEVERTIKA 5/2 jt fav owned by Mrs J M Jones, trained by Kate Walton and ridden by Richie McGrath
2009 John Smiths Champion Standard Open National Hunt Flat race Grade 2 SITTING TENNANT 66/1 owned by Tenant, Sharpe and Boston, trained by Kate Walton and ridden by Richie McGrath
2009 Tam O'Shanter Handicap Chase at Ayr MORGAN BE 9/4 fav owned by S Breakspeare, trained by Kate Walton and ridden by Richie McGrath
2009 SIS Handicap Hurdle at Kelso STILL AT LUNCH 15/2 owned by The Well Oiled Partnership, trained by Kate Walton and ridden by Richie McGrath
2009 Toteswinger Handicap Hurdle at Musselburgh STILL AT LUNCH 6/1 owned by The Well Oiled Partnership, trained by Kate Walton and ridden by Richie McGrath
2010 Parklands Handicap Chase at Newcastle JIMMY BOND 13/2 owned by Mr & Mrs Paul Chapman, trained by Kate Walton and ridden by Richie McGrath
2010 Duncan Sinclair Memorial Handicap Hurdle at Kelso STOPPED OUT 6/1 owned by The Well Oiled Partnership, trained by Kate Walton and ridden by Richie McGrath
2010 Clelands Jaguar Handicap Hurdle at Kelso STOPPED OUT 9/1 owned by The Well Oiled Partnership, trained by Kate Walton and ridden by Richie McGrath
2010 Catterickbridge Handicap Chase STAR BEAT 9/1 owned by Blyth, Buttery, Tanfield & Wilson, trained by Kate Walton and ridden by Graham Lee
2011 Bushmills Irish Whiskey Novices Hurdle at Newcastle RUMBLE OF THUNDER 6/4 owned by The Well Oiled Partnership, trained by Kate Walton and ridden by Richie McGrath
2011 Isle of Skye Scotch Whisky Handicap Chase at Kelso STAR BEAT 11/2 owned by Blyth, Buttery, Tanfield & Wilson, trained by Kate Walton and ridden by Graham Lee
2011 Pharmistice at 20 Handicap Hurdle at Kelso STOPPED OUT 5/1 owned by The Well Oiled Partnership, trained by Kate Walton and ridden by Richie McGrath
2011 Rewards4racing Novices Hurdle at Aintree RUMBLE OF THUNDER 7/4 owned by The Well Oiled Partnership, trained by Kate Walton and ridden by Richie McGrath
2011 Prelude Handicap Hurdle Listed race at Market Rasen RUMBLE OF THUNDER 20/1 owned by The Well Oiled Partnership, trained by Kate Walton and ridden by Richie McGrath
2011 Betfred Goals Galore Handicap Hurdle at Aintree RUMBLE OF THUNDER 7/2 fav owned by The Well Oiled Partnership, trained by Kate Walton and ridden by Dougie Costello
2011 John Deere Handicap Hurdle at Market Rasen FAITYNUFF 6/1 owned by New Roc, trained by Kate Walton and ridden by Richie McGrath
2012 John Smith Stayers Handicap Hurdle at Musselburgh EVERAARD 13/2 owned by Tennant, Sharpe & Boston, trained by Kate Walton and ridden by Richie McGrath
2012 Parklands Golf Course Handicap Chase at Newcastle MORGAN BE 10/1 owned by S Breakspeare, trained by Kate Walton and ridden by Richie McGrath
2012 County Refreshments Kilmany Handicap Chase at Musselburgh EVERAARD 7/2 owned by Tennant, Sharpe & Boston, trained by Kate Walton and ridden by Richie McGrath
2012 First Footer Handicap Hurdle at Musselburgh EVERAARD 7/2 owned by Tennant, Sharpe & Boston, trained by Kate Walton and ridden by Richie McGrath
December 2012-December 2014 Phil Kirby
Phil Kirby, born in Lancashire on 19th April 1970, worked for Middleham Gold Cup winning trainer Ferdy Murphy for 4 years, even taking a few rides until height and weight became a problem, and celebrated a winner on his very first ride. However, he then trained to be a farrier before successfully applying for his trainers licence at the end of 2006. He began training in early 2007 and, although he only had 4 horses in that first year, he became the leading Hunter Chase trainer in that season and has since developed into one of the best dual-purpose trainers based in the North. His inaugural winner as a licensed trainer was with Amazing King in the February 2008 Anderson Strathern Juvenile Novices Handicap Hurdle at Musselburgh, and the horse went on to regularly win a couple of races each season. Phil was training at Dibble Bridge Stables, but also rented boxes at Keith Reveley's yard at Castleton, near Saltburn. In December 2012 Phil was informed that Kate Walton was retiring from training at her Sharp Hill Farm Stables on the edge of Middleham and decided to transfer his string to those stables, although Phil, and his wife Philippa, a renowned artist and accomplished horsewoman, had two young daughters, Isabella and Indiana, so there were difficult decisions to be made about where the family should be based. During his two years at Sharp Hill Farm Phil won some very high-profile races, including the 2013 Old Borough Cup Handicap at Haydock with Platinum, and the Listed EBF Mobile Silver Tankard at Pontefract with Lady Heidi. The next year he landed the £25,000 Cumbria Crystal Trophy Handicap Hurdle at Cartmel with Goldan Jess, the £18,000 Red Mills Handicap Hurdle at Aintree with Rumble of Thunder, the £16,000 Bet365 Handicap Hurdle at Sandown with Stopped Out, and the £15,000 John Smiths Handicap Chase at Kelso with loyal servant Everaard, a horse who had previously won many good races when trained by Kate Walton. On Boxing Day 2014 Phil celebrated Christmas in style by landing an across the card 659/1 treble when Bedale Lane 5/1 won the Standard Open National Hunt Flat race at Sedgefield, Istimraar 9/1 won on the same card, and Hail the Brave 10/1 won at Wetherby. In December 2014 Phil moved back to the Castleton yard formerly run by Keith Reveley, and by June 2016 had relocated to a yard of his own on Green Oaks Farm, East Appleton near Catterick.
2008 Anderson Strathern Juvenile Novices Handicap Hurdle at Musselburgh AMAZING KING 11/2 owned by The New Venture Partnership, trained by Phil Kirby and ridden by Richard Tierney
2013 bet365 Handicap Hurdle at Sandown STOPPED OUT 22/1 owned by The Well Oiled Partnership, trained by Phil Kirby and ridden by Richie McGrath
2013 Old Borough Cup Handicap at Haydock PLATINUM 10/1 owned by Mrs Philippa Kirby, trained by Phil Kirby and ridden by Russ Kennemore
2013 Pentland Land Rover Handicap at Musselburgh PLATINUM 7/1 owned by Mrs Philippa Kirby, trained by Phil Kirby and ridden by Russ Kennemore
2013 ABF Soldiers Charity Handicap at Carlisle PLATINUM 7/2 owned by Mrs Philippa Kirby, trained by Phil Kirby and ridden by Russ Kennemore
2013 Ray Hawthorne Memorial Handicap at Musselburgh PLATINUM 12/5 fav owned by Mrs Philippa Kirby, trained by Phil Kirby and ridden by Russ Kennemore
2013 EBF Mobile Silver Tankard Listed Stakes at Pontefract LADY HEIDI 20/1 owned by Hardisty Rolls II, trained by Phil Kirby and ridden by Silvestre De Sousa
2014 New Racing Handicap Chase at Wetherby EVERAARD 100/30 fav owned by Tennat, Sharpe, Boston, trained by Phil Kirby and ridden by James Reveley
2014 Musselburgh Gold Cup Handicap Chase PASS MUSTER 17/2 owned by C B Construction (Cleveland) trained by Phil Kirby and ridden by Philip Makin
2014 Weatherbys Bank Handicap at Musselburgh JUST PAUL 5/2 fav owned by Mr & Mrs Paul Chapman, trained by Phil Kirby and ridden by P J McDonald
2014 Red Mills Handicap Hurdle at Aintree RUMBLE OF THUNDER 12/1 owned by Tennant, Sharpe & Boston, trained by Phil Kirby and ridden by Adam Nicol
2014 Watt Memorial Handicap at Beverley STOPPED OUT 8/1 owned by The Well Oiled Partnership, trained by Phil Kirby and ridden by Joe Fanning
2014 Cumbria Crystal Trophy Handicap Hurdle at Cartmel GOLDAN JESS 18/1 owned by The Jessies, Colin Fletcher & Philip Kirby, trained by Phil Kirby and ridden by Kyle James
2014 Bet with Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle at Southwell JAWAAB 16/1 owned by L & D Racing, trained by Phil Kirby and ridden by Adam Nicol
2014 ROA Owners Jackpot Handicap Hurdle at Fakenham STAGGS LEAP 10/1 owned by John Platts, trained by Phil Kirby and ridden by Henry Brooke
2014 Join Now at rewards4racing Novices Chase at Carlisle STOPPED OUT 100/30 owned by The Well Oiled Partnership, trained by Phil Kirby and ridden by James Reveley
2014 Hexham Bookmalers National Hunt Novices Hurdle ANIKNAM 15/8 owned by Nobaj Ltd, trained by Phil Kirby and ridden by James Reveley
2014 William Hill App Novices Handicap Hurdle at Wetherby HAIL THE BRAVE 10/1 owned by Junco Partners Ontoawinner Foster Backing, trained by Phil Kirby and ridden by James Reveley
2014 Windpower Energy Resources Handicap Hurdle at Sedgefield ISTIMRAAR 9/1 owned by Claudio Michael Grech, trained by Phil Kirby and ridden by Adam Nicol
2014 Jane Wills Equine Portraiture Standard Open National Hunt Flat race at Sedgefield BEDALE LANE 5/1 owned by Robin Ellerbeck, trained by Phil Kirby and ridden by Phil Dennis
Chris Thornton, born on 30th June 1949, was appointed assistant to the veteran Spigot Lodge trainer Sam Hall in 1973 when he was just 23 years old. He supported Sam for the next 4 years, and when Sam died on 3rd July 1977 Chris successfully applied for a trainer's licence and took over the training of Sam's former horses. He spent the next 23 years at Spigot Lodge, training Northumberland Plate winners and Cheltenham winners, and was placed in the Epsom Derby. In 2000 Guy Reed sold Spigot Lodge to Newmarket trainer Karl Burke and Chris knew that he had to find new premises. He moved, on a temporary basis, to John Weymes stable until his own new stables on part of Sharp Hill Farm were ready to be occupied. After sharing with John Weymes at Ashgill for a period, Chris Thornton wondered where his next permanent base would be, for he was keen to stay in the vicinity of Middleham. He applied for a grant from the mid-Wensleydale Community Partnership, and when the Partnership were notified that the Farming and Rural Conservation Agency had received a European grant specifically for farm diversification, Chris's project seemed to fit the bill. A barn on Sharp Hill Farm, owned by G F Walton, was earmarked for redevelopment and planning permission was eventually approved to transform the barn into 27 indoor stables as well as offices and a training facility. The Barn was barely half a mile from the Low Moor Gallops, although it was considerably further away from the stables already on Sharp Hill Farm. Chris took over occupancy of Dale House in 2001, transferring his string of 24 from Ashgill. Although numbers dipped to 18 by 2002, they fluctuated between 12 and 22 for the next 7 years, but by 2010 Chris was down to 9 horses. In the decade he spent at Dale House his best horses were Flossy and Lets Roll, the former owned by Guy Reed, the latter by A Crute and Partners, while his final winner was Petella at Beverley in September 2010. He announced his retirement in October 2010, having spent 33 years as a successful trainer.
2001 Bet Direct Listed Showcase Handicap at Chester FLOSSY 6/1 owned by Exors of the late Guy Reed, trained by Chris Thornton and ridden by Robert Winston
2004 Formica Surfacing Your World Handicap at Redcar LETS ROLL 11/2 owned by A Crute & Partners, trained by Chris Thornton and ridden by Dean McKeown
2005 Ripon Bell-Ringers Handicap Stakes LETS ROLL 3/1 fav owned by A Crute & Partners, trained by Chris Thornton and ridden by Dean McKeown
2005 Stanleybet Handicap at Ayr LETS ROLL 11/4 owned by A Crute & Partners, trained by Chris Thornton and ridden by Danny Tudhope
2005 Turftours Handicap at Ayr LETS ROLL 7/2 fav owned by A Crute & Partners, trained by Chris Thornton and ridden by Saleem Golam
2006 Carricks Darley Hay Architects Handicap at Beverley LETS ROLL 2/1 fav owned by A Crute & Partners, trained by Chris Thornton and ridden by Saleem Golam
Michael Hammond, born on 25th September 1962 in Guildford, universally known as Micky, is the son of a bricklayer and served his apprenticeship with Tom Jones in Surrey, remaining for 4 years, and then joined Hugh O'Neill at Coldharbour. He rode his first winner in 1982 in the Magna Carta Handicap Chase at Windsor on 17th February when he partnered Excelsior 4/1. He later wrote to pools winner George Dawes to see if he would allow him to work at Kingsley House stables, joining Middleham trainer George Moore, and the pair enjoyed success in the 1986 Timeform Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow with Tingle Bell, who broke the course record by 2.3 seconds, and later the 1988 Glenlivet at Aintree and Victor Ludorum Hurdle with Royal Illiusion. However, arguably his most high-profile win was in the 1986 Scottish Grand National at Ayr when riding Hardy Lad 28/1 for owner Mrs Antonia Milligan and Middleham trainer Jumbo Wilkinson, defeating Aintree Grand National winner Corbiere. In a riding career spanning 8 seasons, Micky had ridden 231 winners. He spent part of the remainder of the jumps season assisting George Moore, but then set up as a trainer at Tupgill Park in what is now the Saddle Room Restaurant, giving him unbridled access to the Low Moor gallops. His first Flat race winner came on his 4th entry, Palmas Pride in July 1990 in the Gigha Handicap at Ayr, and the next month he landed his first jump race win with the same horse in the Craigvinean Juvenile Novices Hurdle at Perth. As early as 1997 Micky was planning a move from Tupgill, having purchased Oakwood Stables, on the outskirts of Middleham, where Ferdy Murphy had been based. The stables needed work and extending, so Micky remained at Tupgill, with 'Horses in Training' continuing to list Micky at Tupgill until the end of 1999. However, eventually Micky transferred his string to his new stables at Oakwood, leaving Tupgill behind on 19th November 1999. On 27th January 2001 Micky won the Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster with Heidi III at 20/1 when partnered by Dean Gallagher, but by April 2001 Micky decided to reassess his priorities, after experiencing a personal setback, and decided to retire from training at just 38 years old. Although Micky announced his premature retirement from the training ranks in April 2001, just over a year later he had recovered his enthusiasm for the game and had settled some of his personal problems, so he thought the time was right to begin training once more. Although his numbers were low for the first couple of years of his return, standing at 19, by 2005 he reported in 'Horses in Training' that his string had increased to 43, and increased further the next year to 48. Oakwood had originally been designed as a 45 box stable, so Micky was always on the lookout for additional boxes., and he did take second yards from time to time. By 2012 his numbers stood at 50, by 2016 they had increased to 77, and further increased to 85 in 2019. Micky took on stables at Sharp Hill Farm, where Kate Walton and Chris Thornton had previously trained successfully. (Note: Micky Hammond's main listing is in Oakwood Stables)
