Duncan Sasse, son of racehorse owner Tim Sasse, was born on 1st January 1951 and began training in Lambourn in 1974 with owners like Mr Henry Zeissel, one time owner of Rheingold, and Sir William Pigott-Brown, twice amateur steeplechase champion jockey in the 1960s, on his books. Early success was gained with his father's Coup De Feu who won the 1974 Newbury Spring Cup at 7/1 ridden by Lester Piggott, and then sprung a surprise in the Eclipse Stakes at 33/1 when partnered by Pat Eddery. Sasse then aimed him high by running him in the 1974 Prix De L'Arc De Triomphe, and despite being unplaced, he received an invitation to contest the Waskington DC International. When his father Tim purchased a quarter share in Roland Gardens from owner John Hayter at the end of its 2-year-old career, the colt was sent to be trained by Duncan at Frenchman's Lodge Stables in Upper Lambourn. The colt had finished first passed the post in the 1977 Horris Hill Stakes at Newbury before being disqualified, so hopes were high for a promising 3-year-old career. The season began well with victory in the Blue Riband Trial Stakes at Epsom at 4/1, and then the colt won the 2000 Guineas at 28/1 when partnered by Frankie Durr. Thoughts centred on the Epsom Derby, for which Roland Gardens was 25/1, but he finished a respectable 8th behind Shirley Heights (SR 216), although he bounced back to form to land the 1979 Philip Cornes Trophy at Leicester. The stable suffered prolonged problems with the virus, causing Sasse to retire from training in England in 1985, after which he spent 6 years training in Italy and a period in Japan, but in April 1997 he renewed his licence when his business partner and amateur rider Christopher Ransom invited him to take over Green Lodge Stables in Newmarket after the retirement of Harry Thompson Jones. Duncan promised his wife Candy that he would only continue to train if he could make it pay and, after six months, with only 10 horses on his books, he called it a day.
1974 Newbury Spring Cup COUP DE FEU 7/1 owned by Tim Sasse, trained by Duncan Sasse and ridden by Lester Piggott
1974 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown COUP DE FEU 33/1 owned by Tim Sasse, trained by Duncan Sasse and ridden by Pat Eddery
1978 Blue Riband Trial Stakes at Epsom ROLAND GARDENS 4/1 owned by John Hayter and Tim Sasse, trained by Duncan Sasse and ridden by Frankie Durr
1978 2000 Guineas at Newmarket ROLAND GARDENS (SR 1890) 28/1 owned by John Hayter and Tim Sasse, trained by Duncan Sasse and ridden by Frankie Durr
1979 Philip Cornes Trophy at Leicester ROLAND GARDENS 5/2 owned by John Hayter and Tim Sasse, trained by Duncan Sasse and ridden by Greville Starkey
1985-1994 David Murray Smith
David Murray Smith, born circa 1954, assisted some of the best trainers of their generation before embarking on his own training career. He spent 6 years with Major Dick Hern at West Ilsley and 4 years with the master Irish trainer Vincent O'Brien, also enjoying a spell in America with Woody Stevens, but in 1983 he was ready to branch out on his own. He began in a small stable in Lambourn, but in December 1984 he had negotiated a move to the large premises of Frenchman's Lodge, Upper Lambourn, replacing Duncan Sasse. He enjoyed early success at Frenchman's Lodge when Rhyme N Reason won the Irish Grand National partnered by Graham Bradley, following up in the Mumm Novices Chase at Aintree, after which he was moved to David Elsworth, who trained him to win the Grand National. Another horse he enjoyed spectacular success with was Aquilifier, owned by B A Kilpatrick, winning the 1988 Weyhill Handicap Chase at Newbury, the Charterhouse Listed Chase at Ascot and the Ritz Club Chase at Cheltenham. He celebrated a Royal Ascot winner in 1991 when Amigo Menor won the Wokingham Handicap at 14/1, doubling up in the Group 3 Phoenix Sprint Stakes at Leopardstown. In May 1997 he transferred from Upper Lambourn to Gumley, Leicestershire, although he found the going equally tough and retired from the training ranks in 2000 aged just 46 years of age, bringing to an end his 17-year career. He later renewed his licence, training at Haycroft Farm near Tarporley, Cheshire.
1985 Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse RHYME 'N' REASON 6/1 fav owned by Juliet Reed, trained by David Murray Smith and ridden by Graham Bradley
1985 Mumm (Mildmay) Novices Chase at Aintree RHYME 'N' REASON owned by Juliet Reed, trained by David Murray Smith and ridden by Graham Bradley
1986 Peter Ross Novice Chase at Ascot CHURCH WARDEN 7/1 owned by Miss Juliet Reed, trained by David Murray Smith and ridden by Graham Bradley
1986 H & T Walker Goddess Limited Handicap Chase at Ascot CHURCH WARDEN 12/1 owned by Miss Juliet Reed, trained by David Murray Smith and ridden by Richard Dunwoody
1988 Weyhill Handicap Chase at Newbury AQUILIFER 7/2 owned by B A Kilpatrick, trained by David Murray Smith and ridden by Paul Croucher
1988 Cecil Hunt Memorial Handicap Chase at Taunton AQUILIFER 11/10 fav owned by B A Kilpatrick, trained by David Murray Smith and ridden by Paul Croucher
1988 Charterhouse Listed Handicap Chase at Ascot AQUILIFER 5/2 fav owned by B A Kilpatrick, trained by David Murray Smith and ridden by Paul Croucher
1988 Mercedes Benz Handicap Chase at Chepstow CHURCH WARDEN 5/2 fav owned by Miss Juliet Reed, trained by David Murray Smith and ridden by Richard Dunwoody
1988 Ritz Club Chase at Cheltenham AQUILIFER 9/2 owned by B A Kilpatrick, trained by David Murray Smith and ridden by Paul Croucher
1991 Price Waterhouse Handicap at Lingfield AMIGO MENOR 5/1 owned by Frank Glennon, trained by David Murray Smith and ridden by Chris Rutter
1991 Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot AMIGO MENOR 14/1 owned by Frank Glennon, trained by David Murray Smith and ridden by Chris Rutter
1991 Phoenix Sprint Stakes Group 3 at Leopardstown AMIGO MENOR 9/2 owned by Frank Glennon, trained by David Murray Smith and ridden by Chris Rutter
1995-2000 & 2002 Norman Berry
Norman Berry, born circa 1945, ran a successful livery yard for 20 years prior to 1995, before deciding to launch his training career in 1995, purchasing Frenchman's House from David Murray-Smith. The stables had started with 28 boxes in 1974 when it was built, but expanded to 48 in 1994, although it then reduced to 20, but Berry was seldom able to fill all of the boxes, and when he did it was often with lowly rated horses which frequently were eliminated from over-subscribed races. In 1995, straight after launching his new career he won with his first entry, Whitelock Quest, landing the Troon Apprentices Handicap Stakes at Southwell in March 1995. Later he won a number of handicaps with Absolute Utopia, but training was always a financial struggle, and in 2000 he had just 6 horses in the yard. Although he retired initially in 2000, he did return for one more attempt in 2002 before leaving the training ranks for good.
1995 Troon Apprentices Handicap Stakes at Southwell WHITELOCK QUEST 33/1 owned by B Beale, trained by Norman Berry and ridden by Adelle Gibbons
1995 Castle Hill Casinos Apprentice Stakes at Wolverhampton WHITELOCK QUEST 100/30 owned by B Beale, trained by Norman Berry and ridden by Adelle Gibbons
1997 Fonthill Handicap at Salisbury ABSOLUTE UTOPIA 7/1 owned by M T Lawrance, trained by Norman Berry and ridden by Frankie Dettori
1998 Cara Handicap at Kempton ABSOLUTE UTOPIA 100/30 owned by M T Lawrance, trained by Norman Berry and ridden by Frankie Dettori
1999 Full Toss Selling Stakes at Warwick CAPTAIN McCLOY 14/1 owned by D W Smith, trained by Norman Berry and ridden by Robyn Brisland
2003-2006 Miss Victoria C Roberts
When Norman Berry gave up training for the second time in 2002 Frenchman's Lodge was taken over by Miss Victoria C Roberts who trained horses for D C Roberts. Horses like Mixed Marriage ran down the field a few times in lowly races at Worcester and Towcester, but her horses struggled to make a show. She left Frenchman's Lodge in 2006 and was replaced by Rod Farrant.
2006-2007 Rod Farrant
Rodney Alan Farrant, born on 27th November 1972 in Bristol, is the son of an amateur jockey who was also Clerk of the Course at Chepstow for many years. Rodney rode from an early age, landing his first winner on The Quohee at Chepstow on 17th February 1990, but he went on to win a number of prestigious races, notably the 1995 Scottish Grand National on Wilsford, the 1997 Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival aboard Martha's Son, and Princeful in the 1998 Stayer's Hurdle at Cheltenham, just 3 of 220 winners during his career. In 2004 he set up a livery stable at Coldharbour Farm at Bampton, just 7 miles from Tiverton, with Martin Pipe, Philip Hobbs and Rod Millman each eager to use his services, but also trained a few point-to-point horses before successfully applying for a trainer's licence. In 2006 he transferred to Frenchman's Lodge, Upper Lambourn where he remained for a short while.
1995 Scottish Grand National at Ayr WILSFORD 16/1 owned by Arnie Kaplan, trained by Mrs Jenny Pitman and ridden by Rod Farrant
1997 Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival MARTHA'S SON 9/1 owned by P J Hartigan, trained by Tim Forster and ridden by Rod Farrant
1998 stayers Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival PRINCEFUL 16/1 owned by Robert Hutchins, trained by Mrs Jenny Pitman and ridden by Rod Farrant
2007-July 2009 Jean-Rene Auvray
Jean-Rene Avery, from a racing family whose father and grandfather were successful trainers in France, trained at Frenchman's Lodge until July 2009 before moving to Wiltshire and being replaced by former Lambourn resident Charlie Morlock.
July 2009-July 2011 Charlie Morlock
Charlie Morlock, born circa 1963, spent a prolonged period learning his trade at Seven Barrows with Nicky Henderson before embarking on his own training career. He began training at Raceyard Cottage Stables, Kingston Lisle near Wantage in 1997, at a time when a very young Archie Watson rode out aged 13. Morlock's 12-year lease came to an end, so at the age of 46 he transferred to Frenchman's Lodge, Upper Lambourn, taking with him his 25 strong string. He remained there for 2 years until he returned to become assisatnt with Nicky Henderson.
August 2013-2014 Sean Curran Racing
Sean Curran, born in Ireland on 7th April 1971, came from a family with strong racing connections, his father Matt and grandfather Paddy both working for Paddy Mullins.His father famously rode 2 Irish Grand National winners, firstly in 1967 when he partnered Vulpine (7/1) trained by Paddy Mullins, and 5 years later when he was aboard Dimwit (15/2) for Paddy Mullins, beating no less a horse than Gold Cup winner The Dikler. After completing his compulsory education Sean joined Paddy Mullins Goresbridge Stables, but he had limited success and, after 5 years, he crossed the Irish Sea to ride for Donald McCain. He enjoyed his most high-profile victory in the 1996 Eider Chase at Newcastle aboard Killeshin, owned and trained by H J Manners. Sean retired from race riding a decade later and embarked on his training career in 2006. Within 2 years he had trained a Grand National winner, albeit the 2008 Scottish Grand National at Ayr with Lee Power's Iris de Balme 66/1 ridden by Charlie Huxley. Earlier the horse had landed the Kent National Hunt Chase at Folkestone with Mattie Bachelor on board. In August 2013 Curran transferred to Frenchman's Lodge, Upper Lambourn where he remained for a year, his best year, training 12 winners.
1996 Eider Chase at Newcastle KILLESHIN 9/1 owned and trained by H J Manners and ridden by Sean Curran
2008 Stop 24 Kent National Hunt Chase at Folkestone IRIS DE BALME 11/1 owned by Lee Power, trained by Sean Curran and ridden by Mattie Bachelor
2008 Scottish Grand National Grade 3 at Ayr IRIS DE BALME 66/1 owned by Lee Power, trained by Sean Curran and ridden by Charlie Huxley
2015-2017 Brendan Powell
Brendan Powell, born on 14th October 1960 in Naas, came to England aged 19 in 1979 as a stable hand at Weathercock House, working for Jenny Pitman. His riding ability meant that he soon started getting mounts, not only for Pitman, but also for Stan Mellor and David Gandolfo, and he had his first mount in public on Veramente (10/1) on Saturday 30th January 1982 in the Weir Handicap Hurdle at Windsor. He was beaten by Desert Hero, partnered by Bill Smith, and Hipparion ridden by Jimmy Nolan, but two weeks later, on 10th February 1982 Powell rode Hipparion at Ascot as an amateur 7lb claimer, but was unplaced. However, he soon mastered his trade, riding over 700 winners in Britain and almost 90 abroad. His most memorable win was in the 1988 Aintree Grand National, guiding Rhyme 'N' Reason 10/1 to victory for owner Miss Juliet Reed and trainer David Elsworth. The horse also won the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse when trained by David Murray Smith at Frenchmand's Lodge, Upper Lambourn. In 1990 he was aboard Nomadic Way 3/1 jt fav for Robert Sangster and Barry Hills when winning the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown. Other successes included a brace of Scottish Grand National victories at Ayr, firstly in 1989 on Roll A Joint, and a decade later on Young Kenny. He had his final mount on Radar at Hereford on 14th June 2000, after which he immediately prepared himself for his training career, starting in Winchester with just 4 horses. He had to wait until 15th November 2000 for his first winner, My Galliano 9/1 at Kempton in the NSPCC Conditional Jockeys Novices Handicap Hurdle. He switched to Frenchman's Lodge Stables, Upper Lambourn, in 2015 where he remained for 2 years, during which time his best horse by far was Dark Emerald who landed valuable back-to-back wins at Meydan in 2015, winning the Nova Stakes Turf Handicap and the District One Turf Handicap.
2000 NSPCC Conditional Jockeys Novices Handicap Hurdle at Kempton MY GALLIANO 9/1 owned by L Gilbert, trained by Brendan Powell and ridden by L Corcoran
2014 Betfred Scoop 6 Handicap at Lingfield DARK EMERALD 14/1 owned by K Rhatigan, trained by Brendan Powell and ridden by Richard Kingscote
2014 All New 32Red Handicap at Newmarket DARK EMERALD 6/1 owned by K Rhatigan, trained by Brendan Powell and ridden by Adam Kirby
2014 1stsolutions Handicap at Newmarket DARK EMERALD 10/1 owned by K Rhatigan, trained by Brendan Powell and ridden by Seb Sanders
2015 Nova Stakes Turf Handicap at Meydan DARK EMERALD 7/1 owned by K Rhatigan, trained by Brendan Powell and ridden by Richard Mullen
2015 District One Turf Handicap at Meydan DARK EMERALD 6/1 owned by K Rhatigan, trained by Brendan Powell and ridden by Richard Mullen
2015 EBF Stallions Conditions Stakes at Hamilton DARK EMERALD 5/6 fav owned by K Rhatigan, trained by Brendan Powell and ridden by Graham Lee
2019-2022 Harry Dunlop
Harry Dunlop, born in 1976, is the younger son of legendary Epsom Derby winning trainer John Dunlop and his wife Sue, and was destined to forge a career in racing; his godfather was Sir Henry Cecil, who also provided guidance and a helping hand. He rode out regularly at his father's stables, winning point-to-points, and then rode as an amateur, even recording a success in a Cheltenham Bumper, but his build made him realise, from a very early age, that a riding career was not possible. Whilst still at school he saw his father send out the filly Salsabil (SR 2017) to win the 1990 1000 Guineas and Epsom Oaks, and on leaving school he gained training experience at a number of different stables in a number of different countries. He worked as assistant to Nicky Henderson at Seven Barrows before venturing to Newmarket, eventually working for his godfather, Sir Henry Cecil from 1999 to 2002. In 2002 he returned home to his father's Castle Stables, Arundel where he made the final preparations to apply for his trainer's licence and launch his own training career. In 2006 he moved to the historic Windsor House Stables in Lambourn, arriving in late September 2006, replacing Ralph Beckett who had transferred to Whitsbury Manor stables. He, and his wife Christina, faced many challenges in the early days, not least because they had a son, Tom, aged just 8 months old, but on 2nd November 2006 he saddled his first runner, Situla, at Wolverhampton in the Median Auction Fillies Stakes, which won at 8/1 owned by Anamoine Ltd and ridden by Dane O'Neill. Since that inaugural winner Harry has landed races in Compiegne, Longchamp, Chantilly, Deauvile, Saint-Cloud and Maisons-Lafitte as well as many victories in the UK, with particular favourites being Knight to Behold and Robin of Navan. In mid-2018 Harry decided to switch training venues from Windsor House to Frenchman's Lodge Stables in Upper Lambourn, where he hoped to be equally successful. Although he enjoyed 4 further seasons at his new stables, including victories with Adaay in Asia at Goodwood, Ascot and York, Harry announced in August that he was closing his yard at the end of the season, and was hoping to carve out a new career in racing and bloodstock.
2008 EBF National Express Hoppings Stakes at Newcastle CLASSIC REMARK 40/1 owned by Hesmonds Stud, trained by Harry Dunlop and ridden by Micky Fenton
2009 Cecil Frail Stakes at Haydock FESTOSO 16/1 owned by Prince A A Faisal, trained by Harry Dunlop and ridden by Steve Drowne
2010 London Gold Cup Handicap at Newbury GREEN MOON 11/1 owned by Mrs Ben Goldsmith & Lady Annabel Goldsmith, trained by Harry Dunlop and ridden by Jamie Spencer
2010 Fairway Stakes at Newmarket GREEN MOON 2/1 owned by Mrs Ben Goldsmith & Lady Annabel Goldsmith, trained by Harry Dunlop and ridden by Jamie Spencer
2012 Wetherbys VAT Service Star Stakes at Sandown ROZ 28/1 owned by Mrs Mary-Anne Parker, trained by Harry Dunlop and ridden by Jim Crowley
2012 Prix Amber Rama Stakes at Compiegne SIR PATRICK MOORE 2/1 owned by The Astronomers, trained by Harry Dunlop and ridden by Christophe Soumillon
2014 Prix Auberville at Clairefontaine RED TORNADO 13/10 fav owned by Blackley, Cross, Johnstone, Whitaker & Woodley, trained by Harry Dunlop and ridden by Gerald Mosse
2014 Prix de la Maniguette at Chantilly RED TORNADO 47/10 owned by Blackley, Cross, Johnstone, Whitaker & Woodley, trained by Harry Dunlop and ridden by Gerald Mosse
2015 De Coride Group 3 Stakes at Chantilly ROBIN OF NAVAN 4/1 owned by Haven't A Pot Partnership & Richard Foden, trained by Harry Dunlop and ridden by T Piccone
2015 Criterium De Saint-Cloud ROBIN OF NAVAN 3/1 owned by Haven't A Pot Partnership & Richard Foden, trained by Harry Dunlop and ridden by T Piccone
2017 Criterium De Maisons-Laffitte FIGHTING IRISH 4/1 owned by Daniel McAuliffe & Anoj Don, trained by Harry Dunlop and ridden by C Demuro
2017 British Racing EBF Racing stakes at Newmarket KNIGHT TO BEHOLD 11/8 fav owned by L Neil Jones, trained by Harry Dunlop and ridden by Richard Kingscote
2018 Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes KNIGHT TO BEHOLD 7/1 owned by L Neil Jones, trained by Harry Dunlop and ridden by Richard Kingscote
2018 Prix Guillaume at Deauville KNIGHT TO BEHOLD 233/10 owned by L Neil Jones, trained by Harry Dunlop and ridden by Oisin Murphy
2018 Prix De Lutece at Longchamp JACK FINBAR 23/10 owned by Haven't A Pot Partnership, trained by Harry Dunlop and ridden by Jim Crowley
2022 World Pool EBF Fillies Handicap at Glorious Goodwood ADAAY IN ASIA 22/1 owned by The 2 Under Partnership, trained by Harry Dunlop and ridden by Dylan Hogan
2022 Shergar Cup Sprint at Ascot ADAAY IN ASIA 4/1 co fav owned by The 2 Under Partnership, trained by Harry Dunlop and ridden by Neil Callan
2022 British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies Handicap at York ADAAY IN ASIA 11/1 owned by The 2 Under Partnership, trained by Harry Dunlop and ridden by Dylan Hogan
ROLAND GARDENS (1978 2000 Guineas)
COUP DE FEU (1974 Eclipse Stakes, Newbury Spring Cup)
RHYME 'N' REASON (1985 Irish Grand National)
ROBIN OF NAVAN (2015 Criterium Fee Stakes, De Corride Stakes, Criterium De Saint-Cloud)
AMIGO MENOR (1991 Wokingham Handicap, Phoenix Sprint Stakes)
