Located at the top of Sheepdrove, on the main Wantage to Lambourn road, is the Group 1 winning Beechdown Stables, built and owned by former National Hunt Champion jockey John Francome, which now boasts a capacity of almost 100 horses divided between a traditional barn and two American style barns, together with an excellent range of training facilities. It also has its own private 7-furlong gallop and indoor school with a polytrack surface.
John Francome
Born in Swindon on 13th December 1952, John Francome showed his riding ability from a very early age riding a pony named Black Beauty while only 6 years old. Initially he gained success as a showjumper and was a member of the Great Britain Junior team which won the European Junior Show Jumping Championships. However, h aged 17 he became an apprentice at the famous Uplands Stables of Champion Trainer Fred Winter in October 1969, winning on his very first mount, Multigrey, at Worcester just 2 months later. His first National Hunt Jockeys title was won in 1975/76, with 6 further titles following in a riding career lasting 16 years during which he recorded 1,138 winners, including the 1978 Cheltenham Gold Cup aboard Midnight Court, the 1981 Champion Hurdle on Sea Pigeon, and the King George VI Chase in 1982 on Wayward Lad, repeating the success two years later aboard Burrough Hill Lad.
In the early 1990s Barry Hills was approaching the end of his stint at South Bank stables, but he was so successful that he still required more stabling, and leased Beechdown from John Francome in 1991. By the time he was ready to transfer from South Bank to Farringdon Place in 1993 he no longer required the extra stables and relinquished his lease.
1993-99 Richard Phillips
Richard, born near Epsom racecourse, was destined to become a racehorse trainer and began working towards his goal as early as 5 years old. After completing his school education at St Andrews School in Leatherhead he joined Graham Thorner before embarking on a course at Witney College, choosing stud and stable management. He returned to Graham Thorner as Head Lad and then joined Henry Candy's Kingston Warren stables, eventually becoming assistant trainer, enjoying eight years of guidance from a master of his trade at a time just after Candy had landed the Epsom Oaks with Time Charter (SR 2002) in 1982, followed two years later by success in the Coronation Cup. He left Kingston Warren in 1993, successfully applying for his own licence and beginning his own journey as a racehorse trainer. At Beechdown Stables he enjoyed great success with the Reading Evening Post Racing Club in the early years, and also guided Time Won't Wait to second place behind Arctic Kinsman in the 1996 Martell Aintree Chase. Other successful horses at this stage of his career included Gnome's Tycoon and Noble Lord. He left Beechdown Stables in 1999, moving to Jackdaw's Castle where he replaced David Nicholson, but within a year owner Clive Smith had sold Jackdaw's Castle to J P McManus which led to Richard moving his string to Adlestrop.
1998 Tote Placepot Handicap Chase at Aintree NOBLE LORD (9/2 jt fav) owned by G Lansbury, trained by Richard Phillips and ridden by Brendan Powell senior
1996 Easter Hero Handicap Chase at Sandown TIME WON'T WAIT (9/4 fav) owned by The Old Berks Partnership, trained by Richard Phillips and ridden by Jamie Railton
1995 Aintree Handicap Chase TIME WON'T WAIT (2/1 fav) owned by The Old Berks Partnership, trained by Richard Phillips and ridden by Jamie Railton
1995 Wargrave Chase at Haydock TIME WON'T WAIT (6/4 fav) owned by The Old Berks Partnership, trained by Richard Phillips and ridden by Jamie Railton
1994 Hungerford Handicap Chase at Newbury GNOME'S TYCOON (5/4 fav) owned by Irvin S Naylor, trained by Richard Phillips and ridden by Jamie Railton
1993 Vulrory Chase at Doncaster GNOME'S TYCOON (7/2) owned by Irvin S Naylor, trained by Richard Phillips and ridden by Jamie Railton
2000-present Clive Cox
Clive Cox, son of a Bristol farmer who then moved to Bridgewater, was born on 14th May 1964 and inherited a love of racing from his grandfather who owned racehorses which were trained by Ken Cundell. After completing his full time education he joined the stables of Peter Cundell, son of Ken, and rode his first winner on Saturday 7th November 1981 in a 25 runner race at Doncaster, aptly named the Last Post Handicap over a mile, on Swift Palm (16/1) defeating the strong Northern jockey John Lowe by a short head. At that stage of his career he weighed 7 stone, but within a year he had partnered his final Flat race winner, Blow My Top, who won the Holiday Stakes at Bath on 25th August 1982. His battle with the scales meant that he had to change tack and switch to a career over jumps, joining Stuart Pattermore's yard in the West country, before transferring to Oliver Sherwood's Lambourn yard. In the 1985/86 season he rode 33 winners, his best season ever, and then, what should have been the highlight of his career as a jockey, partnering the favourite, Mrs Christopher Heath's Sacred Path, in the 1988 Grand National won by Rhyme & Reason, but after an initial false start Sacred Path fell at the first fence. He retired as a jockey after accumulating almost 100 winners and began his journey towards becoming a trainer, initially training briefly on his own before joining the Barbury Castle stables of Mikey Heaton Ellis where he acted as Assistant Trainer in 1992. Unfortunately, Mikey was diagnosed with motor neuron disease, but bravely fought his illness, continuing to train from his wheelchair, but sadly he lost his battle on Monday 9th August 1999 and the training licence was transferred to Clive. Towards the end of the 1999 season Richard Phillips was offered the possibility to train at Jackdaw's Castle, and this provided John Francome with the chance to present the lease of Beechdown Stables to Clive, a golden opportunity which he willingly grasped. He trained his first Listed winner, Lago D'Orta, in 2003 when landing the Prix le Fabuleux at Longchamp, and his first Group 3 winner in 2007 with Beacon Light in the Horris Hill at Newbury. Balthazaar's Gift gained a Group 2 success in the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury in 2009, although Clive had to wait until 2010 to chalk up a Group 1 victory when Gilt Edge Girl was triumphant in the Prix De L'Abbaye at Longchamp. Most Flat race trainers measure their success by the number of Royal Ascot wins, how numerous their victories are in Listed and Group races, and whether they can achieve the ultimate target, training a Classic winner. After training for more than 20 years at Beechdown Stables Clive can tick most boxes on his CV, yet still has the necessary drive and determination to aspire to that ultimate success.
2000-2009
2003 Prix le Fabuleux (Listed) £13,312 at Longchamp LAGO D'ORTA owned by Dennis Shaw, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Dane O'Neill
2003 Britannia Stakes £34,800 at Royal Ascot NEW SEEKER (16/1) owned by the Elite Racing Club, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Jamie Spencer
2005 Royal Hunt Cup £58,000 at Royal Ascot NEW SEEKER (11/1) owned by Elite Racing Club, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Philip Robinson
2005 Dubai Duty Free Cup (Listed) £16,240 at Newbury NEW SEEKER (6/4 fav) owned by Elite Racing Club, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Dane O'Neill
2006 Empress Stakes (Listed) £13,343 at Newmarket HOPE 'N' CHARITY (5/4 fav) owned by S R Hope and S W Barrow, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Philip Robinson
2007 On The House Stakes (Listed) £17,034 at Goodwood DUNELIGHT (7/2) owned by Mr & Mrs Peter Hargreaves, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Dane O'Neill
2007 Mountgrange Stud Horris Hill Stakes (Group 3) £21,008 at Newbury BEACON LIGHT (14/1) owned by Mr & Mrs Peter Hargreaves, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2007 Rosemary Stakes (Listed) £17,034 at Ascot PERFECT STAR (4/1 co fav) owned by Dr Bridget Drew and E E Dedman, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Mick Kinane
2008 Oaks Trial Stakes (Listed) £25,547 at Lingfield Park MIRACLE SEEKER (10/1) owned by D j Burke, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2008 Midsummer Stakes (Listed) £14,760 at Windsor DUNELIGHT (2/1) owned by Mr & Mrs Peter Hargreaves, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Ian Mongan
2009 Spring Trophy Stakes (Listed) £22,708 at Haydock BEACON LIGHT (11/2) owned by Mr & Mrs Peter Hargreaves, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by George Baker
2009 Vintage Stakes (Group 2) £45,416 at Goodwood XTENSION (7/2 fav) owned by Brighthelm Racing, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2009 Prix Du Chemin De Fer Du Nord (Group 3) £38,835 at Chantilly BEACON LIGHT (10/1) owned by Mr & Mrs Peter Hargreaves, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Gerald Mosse
2009 Chalice Stakes (Listed) £22,708 at Newbury POLLY'S MARK (16/1) owned by Wickham Stud, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by William Buick
2009 Hungerford Stakes (Group 2) £56,770 at Newbury BALTHAZAAR'S GIFT (10/1) owned by HE Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Philip Robinson
2009 Ayr Gold Cup (Heritage Handicap) £93,465 at Ayr JIMMY STYLES (14/1) owned by Gwyn Powell and Peter Ridgers, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Frankie Dettori
2009 Fenwolf Stakes (Listed) £22,708 at Ascot ELECTROLYSER (4/1) owned by Mr & Mrs Peter Hargreaves, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Philip Robinson
2010 Lansdown Fillies Stakes (Listed) £22,708 at Bath GILT EDGE GIRL (13/2) owned by Wood Street Syndicate, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Luke Morris
2010 Rose of Lancaster Stakes (Group 3 £32,359) at Haydock POET (7/1) owned by Mrs T L Cox, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2010 Ballyogan Stakes (Group 3) £35,044 at Leopardstown GILT EDGE GIRL (9/1) owned by Wood Street Syndicate and C J Harper, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Luke Morris
2010 Park Stakes (Group 2) £90,832 at Doncaster BALTHAZAAR'S GIFT (16/1) owned by HE Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Philip Robinson
2010 Lady Wulfruna Stakes (Listed) £22,708 at Wolverhampton DUNELIGHT (5/1) owned by Mr & Mrs Peter Hargreaves, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Ryan Moore
2010 Princess Royal Stakes (Listed) £25,547 at Ascot POLLY'S MARK (5/2) owned by Wickham Stud, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Richard Hughes
2010 Floodlit Stakes (Listed) £14,484 at Kempton Park DANSILI DANCER (11/1 dead-heat) owned by The Loyal Troupers, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2011 Cammidge Trophy (Listed) £17,031 at Doncaster JIMMY STYLES (22/1) owned by Gwyn Powell and Peter Ridgers, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2011 Pavilion Stakes (Listed) £17,031 at Ascot PERFECT TRIBUTE (14/1) owned by Mildmay Racing & D H Caslon, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Luke Morris
2011 Doonside Cup (Listed) £22,684 at Ayr POET (5/4 fav) owned by Mrs T L Cox, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2011 Lady Wulfruna Stakes (Listed) £19,870 at Wolverhampton DUNELIGHT (9/1) owned by Mr & Mrs Peter Hargreaves, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Luke Morris
2011 Spring Trophy Stakes (Listed) £17,031 at Haydock BEACON LIGHT (4/1) owned by Mr & Mrs Peter Hargreaves, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Philip Robinson
2011 Chartwell Fillies Stakes (Group 3) £28,385 at Lingfield PERFECT TRIBUTE (12/1) owned by Mildmay Racing & D H Caslon, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Luke Morris
2012 Further Flight Stakes (Listed) £19,849 at Nottingham ELECTROLYSER (16/1) owned by Mr & Mrs Peter Hargreaves, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2012 Middle Park Stakes (Group 1) £85,065 at Newmarket RECKLESS ABANDON (9/4 jt fav) owned by Miss J Deadman & S Barrow, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Gerald Mosse
2012 Prix Morny (Group 1) £166,658 at Deauville RECKLESS ABANDON (6/4 fav) owned by Miss J Deadman & S Barrow, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Gerald Mosse
2012 Prix Robert Papin (Group 2) £61,750 at Maisons Laffitte RECKLESS ABANDON (9/4 fav) owned by Miss J Deadman & S Barrow, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Gerald Mosse
2012 Norfolk Stakes (Group 2) £42,533 at Royal Ascot RECKLESS ABANDON (4/1) owned by Miss J Deadman and S Barrow, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2012 Hungerford Stakes (Group 2) £51,039 at Newbury LETHAL FORCE (25/1) owned by Alan G Craddock, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2012 Steventon Stakes (Listed) £18,714 at Newbury POET (3/1) owned by Mrs T L Cox, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Eddie Ahern
2012 Prix de Meautry Lucien Barriere (Group 3) at Deauville £33,333 JIMMY STYLES (12/1) owned by Gwyn Powell and Peter Ridgers, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Gerald Mosse
2012 Dubai Duty Free Arc Trial (Group 3) £31,191 at Newbury BLACK SPIRIT (4/1) owned by A D Spence, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2012 Bosra Sham Fillies Stakes (Listed) at Newmarket £13,043 MELBOURNE MEMORIES (9/1) owned by M P & R J Coleman, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Paul Hanagan
2013 Landown Fillies Stakes (Listed) £22,684 at Bath PLACE IN MY HEART (16/1) owned by C J Harper, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2013 Marygate Stakes (Listed) £19,849 at York BELDALE MEMORY (7/4 fav) owned by Mrs T L Cox, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Jamie Spencer
2013 Surrey Stakes (Listed) at Epsom £22,684 WELL ACQUAINTED (4/1) owned by The Orienteers, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Ryan Moore
2013 July Cup (Group 1) £283,550 at Newmarket LETHAL FORCE (9/2) owned by Alan G Craddock, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2013 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Group 1) £283,550 at Royal Ascot LETHAL FORCE (11/1) owned by Alan G Craddock, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2014 Lennox Stakes (Group 2) £85,065 at Goodwood ES QUE LOVE (7/1) owned by the Es Que Love Partnership, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2014 Winkfield Stakes (Listed) £17,013 at Ascot KODI BEAR (2/1 jt fav) owned by Mrs Olive Shaw, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2015 Prix Perth (Group 3) £31,008 at Saint Cloud MY DREAM BOAT (17/2) owned by Paul & Clare Rooney, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Christophe Soumillon
2015 Westow Stakes (Listed) £22,684 at York PROFITABLE (14/1) owned by A D Spence, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2015 Midsummer Stakes (Listed) £20,983 at Windsor KODI BEAR (6/4 fav) owned by Mrs Olive Shaw, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Oisin Murphy
2015 Sovereign Stakes (Listed) £45,533 at Salisbury KODI BEAR (11/4 fav) owned by Mrs Olive Shaw, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Gerald Mosse
2015 Celebration Mile (Group 2) £56,710 at Goodwood KODI BEAR (4/5 fav) owned by Mrs Olive Shaw, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Gerald Mosse
2015 Prix Du Ranelagh (Listed) £20,155 at Chantilly MY DREAM BOAT (3/1) owned by Paul & Clare Rooney, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Christophe Soumillon
2016 Kings Stand Stakes (Group 1) £226,840 at Royal Ascot PROFITABLE (4/1) owned by A D Spence, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2016 Prince of Wales Stakes (Group 1) £425,325 at Royal Ascot MY DREAM BOAT (16/1) owned by Paul & Clare Rooney, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2016 Temple Stakes (Group 2) £56,710 at Haydock PROFITABLE (8/1) owned by A D Spence, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2016 Gordon Richards Stakes (Group 3) £36,862 at Sandown MY DREAM BOAT (8/1) owned by Paul & Clare Rooney, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2016 Palace House Stakes (Group 3) £34,026 at Newmarket PROFITABLE (20/1) owned by A D Spence, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2016 Mill Reef Stakes (Group 2) £42,533 at Newbury HARRY ANGEL (2/1 fav) owned by Peter Ridgers, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2016 Prix Robert Papin (Group 2) £54,485 at Maisons-Laffitte TIS MARVELLOUS (3/1) owned by Miss J Deadman & S Barrow, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2016 Sovereign Stakes (Group 3) £42,533 at Salisbury ZONDERLAND (4/1) owned by Cheveley Park Stud, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Oisin Murphy
2016 Scarborough Stakes (Listed) £22,684 at Doncaster PRICELESS (4/1) owned by A D Spence, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Silvestre De Sousa
2016 Fortune Stakes (Listed) at Sandown £20,983 QUEBEE (16/1) owned by Martin Collins, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Harry Bentley
2017 Haydock Sprint Cup (Group 1) £147,446 HARRY ANGEL (2/1 fav) owned by Godolphin, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2017 Lansdown Stakes (Listed) £22,684 at Bath PRICELESS (13/8 fav) owned by A D Spence, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2017 Flying Childers Stakes (Group 2) £39,697 at Doncaster HEARTACHE (6/4 fav) owned by the Hot to Trot Syndicate, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Ryan Moore
2017 Temple Stakes (Group 2) £56,710 at Haydock PRICELESS (11/2) owned by A D Spence, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2017 Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2) £62,381 at Royal Ascot HEARTACHE (5/1) owned by the Hot to Trot Syndicate, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2017 Prix Du Petit Couvert (Group 3) £34,188 at Chantilly LADY MACAPA (186/10) owned by Michael Johnson & John Law, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Luke Morris
2017 Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes at The Curragh £128,205 SNAZZY JAZZY (4/1) owned by Mrs Olive Shaw, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2017 Silver Tankard Stakes (Listed) £19,849 at Pontefract CONNECT (9/1) owned by A D Spence, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2017 July Cup (Group 1) £283,550 at Newmarket HARRY ANGEL (9/2) owned by Godolphin, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2017 Sandy Lane Stakes (Group 2) £51,039 at Haydock HARRY ANGEL (5/6 fav) owned by Peter Ridgers, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2018 Duke of York Stakes (Group 2) £70,888 HARRY ANGEL (4/9 fav) owned by Godolphin, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2018 Oaks Trial Fillies Stakes (Listed) £22,682 at Lingfield PERFECT CLARITY (5/1) owned by Dr Bridget Drew & David Keast, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2018 Prix Coronation (Listed) £24,336 at Saint-Cloud SHEPHERD MARKET (108/10) owned by Windmill Racing, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Tony Piccone
2018 Prix de Seine-et-Oise (Group 3) £35,398 at Maisons-Laffitte SNAZZY JAZZY (18/1) owned by Mrs Olive Shaw, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Gerald Mosse
2019 Cathedral Stakes (listed) £19,533 at Salisbury SNAZZY JAZZY (11/4) owned by Mrs Olive Shaw, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2019 Prix Hampton (Listed) £23,423 at Maisons-Laffitte SHADES OF BLUE (11/10 fav) owned by Miss A Jones, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Hollie Doyle
2019 Betfred Heritage Handicap £62,250 at Ascot TIS MARVELLOUS (9/2) owned by Miss J Deadman and S Barrow, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2019 Solario Stakes (Group 3) £28,355 at Sandown POSITIVE (4/5 fav) owned by A D Spence, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2019 Sirenia Stakes (Group 3) £34,026 at Kempton STREAMLINE (9/2) owned by Mainline Racing, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Hector Crouch
2019 Richmond Stakes (Group 2) £113,420 at Goodwood GOLDEN HORDE (15/2) owned by Al Mohamediya Racing, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2020-present
2020 Stonehenge Stakes (Listed) £13,327 at Salisbury COBHFIELD (11/4) owned by China Horse Club International Limited, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2020 Prestige Stakes (Group 3) £19,849 at Goodwood ISABELLA GILES (11/4) owned by Paul & Clare Rooney, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2020 Rockfel Stakes (Group 2) £45,368 at Newmarket ISABELLA GILES (11/5) owned by Paul & Clare Rooney, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2020 Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) £148,000 at Royal Ascot GOLDEN HORDE (5/1) owned by Al Mohamediya Racing, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2020 Coventry Stakes (Group 2) £35,520 at Royal Ascot NANDO PARRADO (150/1) owned by Mrs Marie McCartan, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2020 Richmond Stakes (Group 2) £28,355 at Goodwood SUPREMACY (11/2) owned by Mr Jason Goddard, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2020 Middle Park Stakes (Group 1) £124,762 at Newmarket SUPREMACY (13/2) owned by Mr Jason Goddard, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2021 Irish Rose Bowl Stakes (listed) £17,013 at Newbury CATURRA (7/2), owned by Saeed Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2021 Mill Reef Stakes (Group 2) £44,971 at Newbury WINGS OF WAR (17/2) owned by Isa Salman Al Khalifa, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
2021 Flying Childers (Group 2) £63,799 at Doncaster CATURRA (7/1), owned by Saeed Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby
HARRY ANGEL (2017 July Cup, 2017 Haydock Sprint Cup)
LETHAL FORCE (2013 July Cup, 2013 Diamond Jubilee Stakes)
RECKLESS ABANDON (2012 Middle Park Stakes, 2012 Prix Morny)
MY DREAM BOAT (2016 Prince of Wales's Stakes)
PROFITABLE (2016 Kings Stand Stakes)
