Located less than a mile from the centre of Lambourn, Linkslade Stables is at Mile End, just off the Wantage Road and was built by Stan Mellor towards the end of 1972. It was originally called Cozey Lodge, and was a famous, weel-used stables from 1882 until 1953. It was then rekindled and renamed Farringdon Road Stables between 1960 and 1970 when occupied by G Spann. The stables are ideally situated a short distance from the Jockey Clubs Mandown gallops, next door to Faringdon Place Stables (Wetherdown House). Since Mellor built the yard, it has expanded a number of times and now consists of 70 boxes, each fitted with its own fresh water supply, although the site still has land capacity to be further extended up to 100 boxes. There is a row of 18 boxes, further rows of 8 and 6 boxes and no less than 5 rows of 5 boxes, together with an L-shaped block of 4 boxes under a tiled roof. The estate also benefits from a barn and Indoor School, a 5-bay horse walker and Covered Ride covered by a polytrack surface.
November 1972-1988 Stan Mellor
Stan Mellor, son of a Manchester timer merchant, was born on 10th April 1937 and became one of the most successful national hunt jockeys of all time before turning his hand to training and becoming almost as accomplished. After completing his compulsory education he joined the Cholmondeley stables of George Owen, based in Malpas in Cheshire at the age of 15, and in less than 2 years he rode his first winner, Straight Border (10/1) on 19th January 1954 in the Hilton Selling Handicap Hurdle over 2 miles at Wolverhampton by half a length. He experienced his first Grand National ride in 1956 when unplaced on Martinique behind the Dave Dick ridden ESB, and was unsuccessful again two years later partnering Never Say When, beaten by Mr What. It was one of the big races on the calendar which eluded him throughout his career, although he did win the 1960 Topham Trophy over the formidable Aintree fences aboard Fresh Winds. He was also unsuccessful in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Champion Hurdle, which is surprising for a jockey who won the National Hunt Jockeys Title 3 years in succession between 1960 and 1962. However, he did enjoy Cheltenham victories, notably on Sandy Abbot in the 1963 Two Mile champion Chase. Arguably his most celebrated win was on Stalbridge Colonist in the 1966 Hennessey Gold Cup when the grey beat Arkle by half a length. Stan earned a place in the record books on 18th December 1971 when he celebrated his 1000th winner on Ouzo at Nottingham, the first National Hunt Jockey to achieve such a record. He finally hung up his riding boots on 2nd June 1972 after recording his 1035th winner aboard Arne Folly at Stratford and was rightly awarded an MBE in that years Honours List.
Once his excellent, record breaking career as a jockey ended Stan turned his hand to training, and few top jockeys have made more of a success of it than Stan who trained more than 750 winners. In 1972 he took over Mile End Stables, a 10 stable block which had been built in 1962 by B Lubecki, who remained in place until 1964. In November 1972 Stan Mellor sought permission to build Linkslade Stables in Mile End, Lambourn, from where he sent out Cheltenham, Aintree, Sandown and Glorious Goodwood winners, although his first winner, the unraced Drishaune (7/1), was in the Garswood Pattern Hurdle over 2 miles at Haydock Park, which Mellor had won the previous year as a jockey partnering Harry Thomson Jones Corsaro. His first winner of note was in the National Hunt Challenge Cup Chase at the Cheltenham Festival with Alpenstock (14/1) partnered by Dick Saunders, who later achieved fame as the oldest Grand National winning rider on Grittar aged 48. Two years later Stan achieved one of his most enjoyable, profitable, highest profile victories with Pollardstown (12/1) in the Triumph Hurdle for loyal owner Mrs Georgina Tulloch, following it up a year later in the Templegate Hurdle, now Aintree Hurdle, at Aintree where he defeated Monksfield. A few weeks later he took the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter with Pacify, and the traditional end of season Whitbread Gold Cup with Royal Mail, one of the many horses which he bought from New Zealand. Pollardstown returned to Cheltenham the next year to finish second in the Champion Hurdle, but was put firmly in his place by the John Francome ridden Sea Pigeon. Stan didn’t have much luck as a jockey in the Grand National, the best he could achieve was second in 1960 on Badanloch when beaten by Merryman II, and that poor luck continued as a trainer when Royal Stuart (20/1) finished fourth behind Ben Nevis in 1980, while Royal Mail finished third in 1981 behind Aldaniti, although few would have denied Aldaniti and Bob Champion their victory. In 1987 he was to come third again, this time with Lean Ar Aghaidh who was defeated by the Jim Joel owned Maori Venture (28/1). Mellor's 1983 Cheltenham Festival was particularly successful when he achieved a rare feat of saddling the first tow in the Triumph Hurdle, a notoriously difficult race to win. Saxon Farm (12/1) led home stablemate Tenth of October (40/1) to reward the stable with a straight forecast which paid £346.60. Whilst Stan's successes over jumps outnumbered his victories on the Flat, he did win the 1985 Stewards Cup at the Glorious Goodwood meeting with Al Trui (9/1 fav) ridden by Michael Wigham. In 1988 Stan received an offer for Linkslade Stables which he could not refuse. Sheikh Mohamed Al Sabah, of Kuwait, purchased the Stables for £800,000 which was sufficient for Stan to buy a new property at Hinton Parva, near Swindon, which Stan described as 'twenty times the size of Linkslade' which he named Pollardstown Stables in honour of his crack hurdler. He was to train there for a further 13 years, saddling his final winner, Storm Tiger, on 28th October 2001 at Aintree. He gave up his trainer's licence in February 2002, and retired to Ashbury, close to the racing village he loved. He died on 1st August 2020 aged 83, leaving behind his wife Elaine and daughters Dana and Linz.
1977 National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup £3,444 at Cheltenham ALPENSTOCK (14/1) owned by H Thomson, trained by Stan Mellor and ridden by Dick Saunders
1979 Triumph Hurdle £13,361 at Cheltenham POLLARDSTOWN (12/1) owned by Mrs Georgina Tulloch, trained by Stan Mellor and ridden by Phillip Blacker
1979 Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up £15,147 at Cheltenham behind Alverton, ROYAL MAIL (7/1) owned by S Burgess, trained by Stan Mellor and ridden by Phillip Blacker
1980 Gerry Feilden (Berkshire) Hurdle £4,077 at Newbury POLLARDSTOWN (11/8 fav) owned by Mrs Georgina Tulloch, trained by Stan Mellor and ridden by Phillip Blacker
1980 Templegate (Aintree) Hurdle £10,777 at Aintree POLLARDSTOWN (2/1) owned by Mrs Georgina Tulloch, trained by Stan Mellor and ridden by Phillip Blacker
1980 Midlands Grand National £3,896 at Uttoxeter PACIFY (7/2) trained by Stan Mellor and ridden by Steve Jobar
1980 Whitbread Gold Cup £17,857 at Sandown ROYAL MAIL (8/1) owned by S Burgess, trained by Stan Mellor and ridden by Phillip Blacker
1981 Grand National third £6,745 at Aintree behind Aldaniti, ROYAL MAIL (16/1) owned by Mr & Mrs John Murray Begg, trained by Stan Mellor and ridden by Phillip Blacker
1983 Triumph Hurdle £19,688 at Cheltenham SAXON FARM (12/1) owned by A Birchall, trained by Stan Mellor and ridden by Mark Perrett
1983 Triumph Hurdle runner-up £9.844 at Cheltenham TENTH OF OCTOBER (40/1) owned by T Ferris, trained by Stan Mellor and ridden by Bill Smith
1985 Stewards Cup £37,733 at Goodwood AL TRUI (9/1) owned by Mr E Jameson, trained by Stan Mellor and ridden by Michael Wigham
1987 Grand National third £8,210 at Aintree behind Maori Venture, LEAN AR AGHAIDH (14/1) owned by Mrs Georgina Tulloch, trained by Stan Mellor and ridden by Guy Landau
1987 Whitbread Gold Cup £32,250 at Sandown LEAN AR AGHAIDH (6/1) owned by Mrs Georgina Tulloch, trained by Stan Mellor and ridden by Guy Landau
1991 Stayers Hurdle £45,610 at Cheltenham KINGS CURATE (5/2 fav) owned by C J Ellis, trained by Stan Mellor and ridden by Mark Perrett
1988-89 Sheikh Mohammed Al Sabah of Kuwait, Fred Ffitch (Fytch)
In June 1987 Sheikh Mohammed Al Sabah transferred 5 horses from the yard of James Bethell to Linkslade Stables, Lambourn, including Sharp Noble and Sharp Romance, fourth in the Kings Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot. Even at that time the Sheikh was considering purchasing the Stables from Stan according to his Head Lad Fred Fytch. When the purchase was finalized a year later Fred Fytch was appointed trainer by the Sheikh, but achieved little during his brief spell in charge.
1989-1991 Sheikh Mohammed Al Sabah, Peter J Hudson
In 1989 the Shiekh appointed new trainer Peter Hudson as his personal trainer at Linkslade and Peter did enjoy some notable successes. At that time the Sheikh's racing affairs were under the umbrella of Al Deera Bloodstock, formed on 7th August 1987, and they purchased Pharoah's Delight from Jack Doyle for 14,000 Guineas. Apart from one costly failure at Leicester in a maiden, the horse went on to gain high profile victories in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes at and the prestigious Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at the now closed Phoenix Park in Dublin. The Shiekh and Peter Hudson almost pulled off an audacious coup on Saturday 10th June 1989, which is fully detailed below. Al Deera Bloodstock was dissolved on 20th December 1993.
The Sheikh and Peter Hudson's attempted coup
On Saturday 10th June 1989 most bookmakers and punters were concentrating on the Epsom Oaks which was taking place that afternoon. However, the Sheikh was eager to recover some of the £800,000 he had outlaid purchasing Linkslade Stables, and trainer Peter Hudson had the perfect plan. On that day he had just 4 runners spread across 3 meetings, with the first and last race more than 5 hours apart. More than 300 betting shops in the south-east of England were targeted, placing £2 Yankees on the 4 Hudson runners at a total cost in excess of £6,600. George Duffield steered Absolutely Perfect home in the 3.35 Evening Gazette Stakes at Catterick at 11-2 beating Tears of Happiness (7/2) and Sir Tom (4/1) by 1/2 length and 1 1/2 lengths. By this stage the bookmakers would not even have noticed their large liabilities, but when Steve Dawson guided Careful Lad (8/11 fav) to victory in the 6.15 Tele-Ads Selling Stakes at Leicester, beating Red Indian (7/1) and Eventide (33/1) by a Head and 2 lengths, the alarm bells would have started ringing. Half an hour later Radish n'Lemon (3/1) ridden by Shaun Keighley won the 6.45 Tindale Selling Stakes at Carlisle beating Sky Watcher (9/4 fav) and Persian Monarch (10/1) by 6 lengths and 2 lengths. The bookmakers already faced a pay out of £59,400, with Pharaoh's Delight in the 8.45 Sports Mercury Maiden Stakes at Leicester still to run. What price should a future winner of the Windsor Castle Stakes, Princess Margaret Stakes and Group 1 Heinz 57 Stakes at Phoenix Park have been in a minor maiden at Leicester when ridden by Pat Eddery, who was unplaced on Rambushka in the Epsom Oaks behind Snow Bride earlier in the afternoon, and how likely was it that she would be beaten in her maiden? In the event she went off the 100/30 second favourite and finished 6th of 7 behind Our Fan (4/1), Indian Maestro (7/4 fav) and Brave Melody (13/2) and prevented the Sheikh and Hudson's stable from completing a Yankee worth almost £317,000.1989 Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed) £13,110 at Royal Ascot PHAROAH'S DELIGHT (11/2) owned by Al Deera Bloodstock, trained by Peter J Hudson and ridden by Pat Eddery
1989 Princess Margaret Stakes (Group 3) £22,410 at Ascot PHAROAH'S DELIGHT (7/4 fav) owned by Al Deera Bloodstock, trained by Peter J Hudson and ridden by Pat Eddery
1989 Phoenix Stakes (Group 1) £122,050 at Phoenix Park PHAROAH'S DELIGHT (2/1 fav) owned by Al Deera Bloodstock, trained by Peter J Hudson and ridden by Ray Cochrane
1991-1993 Vacant and inhabited by squatters
William Muir, born at Fawley Stud, was destined to spend his life in racing and to become a leading trainer. Having spent time learning his trade with Pat Taylor, Nick Vigors, Kim Brassey and Fulke Johnson Houghton, he launched his own training career in 1991 in his 12 horse Delamere, Folly Road yard in Lambourn, and saddled the one time favourite in that years Stewards Cup at Glorious Goodwood, although Farfelu (10/1) ultimately finished sixth behind the Richard Hannon trained Notley (14/1). In 1993 William, and his wife Janet, moved down the roda to Linkslade Stables which, at that point, was unkempt after a couple of years neglect following the death of owner Sheikh Mohammed Al Sabah of Kuwait. William, and his trusted, hard-working team had to refurbish the stables, but they were soon to reap their rewards. His first Group 3 winner cam in 1997 when Averti landed the King George Stakes at Goodwood. Further Listed and Group 3 successes followed, but William had to wait until 2015 to land his first Group 2 winner, Stepper Point in the Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh. William has never shied away from going to the extra mile to add to his tally of winners, winning in Sha Tin, Longchamp, Deauville and Chantilly.
1997 King George Stakes (Group 3) at Goodwood £27,680 AVERTI (11/1) owned by D J Deer, trained by William Muir and ridden by Kieren Fallon
2002 Balmoral Handicap £29,000 at Royal Ascot ZARGUS (14/1) owned by Mrs Monique V Bruce Copp, trained by William Muir and ridden by Martin Dwyer
2002 Leighton Handicap £80,352 at Sha Tin REBEL LEADER trained by William Muir
2004 Bunbury Cup (Heritage Handicap) £45,500 at Newmarket MATERIAL WITNESS (25/1) owned by M J Caddy, trained by William Muir and ridden by Martin Dwyer
2005 Lexus Darley Stakes (Group 3) at Newmarket £29,000 ENFORCER (12/1) owned by D G Clarke and C L A Edginton, trained by William Muir and ridden by Martin Dwyer
2008 Pretty Polly Stakes (Listed) £17,031 at Newmarket SAPHIRA'S FIRE (7/1) owned by M J Caddy, trained by William Muir and ridden by Martin Dwyer
2009 Dubai Tennis Championship Stakes (Group 3) at Newbury £36,901 ENROLLER (12/1) owned by D G Clarke and C L A Edginton, trained by William Muir and ridden by Martin Dwyer
2011 Criterium de Vitesse (Listed) £23,707 at Longchamp STEPPER POINT (2/1 fav) owned by C L A Edginton, trained by William Muir and ridden by Christophe Soumillon
2012 Prix Du Calvados (Group 3) £33,333 at Deauville PURR ALONG (168/10) owned by Muir Racing Partnership, trained by William Muir and ridden by Umberto Rispoli
2013 Beverley Bullet Sprint Stakes (Listed) £23,680 at Beverley STEPPER POINT (10/1) owned by C L A Edginton, trained by William Muir and ridden by Martin Dwyer
2014 Hever Sprint Stakes (Listed) £25,520 at Lingfield STEPPER POINT (16/1) owned by C L A Edginton, trained by William Muir and ridden by Martin Dwyer
2014 Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes at Curragh (Group 3) £55,000 STEPPER POINT (9/4 fav) owned by C L A Edginton, trained by William Muir and ridden by Martin Dwyer
2014 Scott Dobson Memorial Stakes (Listed) £15,984 at Doncaster CODE RED (11/2) owned by Mrs Michelle Morgan, trained by William Muir and ridden by Martin Dwyer
2015 Surrey Stakes (Listed) £22,684 at Epsom CODE RED (14/1) owned by Mrs Michelle Morgan, trained by William Muir and ridden by Martin Dwyer
2015 Sapphire Stakes (Group 2) £56,744 at Curragh STEPPER POINT (6/1) owned by C L A Edginton, trained by William Muir and ridden by Pat Smullen
2015 Criterium de Vitesse (Listed) £21,318 at Chantilly FINE BLEND (107/10) owned by Muir Racing Partnership, trained by William Muir and ridden by Umberto Rispoli
2015 James Seymour Stakes (Listed) £20,983 at Newmarket RESTORER (10/1) owned by C L A Edginton, trained by William Muir and ridden by Andrea Atzeni
2015 Ben Marshall Stakes (Listed) £20,983 at Newmarket BIG BAZ (33/1) owned by The Big Baz Partnership, trained by William Muir and ridden by Graham Lee
2015 Hyde Stakes (Listed) £22,684 at Kempton BIG BAZ (8/1) owned by The Big Baz Partnership, trained by William Muir and ridden by Graham Lee
2019 Ascendant Stakes (Listed) £14,461 at Haydock PYLEDRIVER (14/1) owned by Knox & Wells Limited & R W Devlin, trained by William Muir and ridden by P J McDonald
2019 Edinburgh Cup £24,900 at Musselburgh JUST HUBERT (3/1 fav) owned by Foursome Thoroughbreds, trained by William Muir and ridden by Graham Lee
2020 King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2) £65,120 at Ascot PYLEDRIVER (18/1) owned by Knox & Wells Limited & R W Devlin, trained by William Muir and ridden by Martin Dwyer
2020 Great Voltigeur Stakes (Group 2) £42,533 at York PYLEDRIVER (10/1) owned by La Pyle Partnership trained by William Muir and ridden by Martin Dwyer
2021-present William Muir & Chris Grassick
After teaming up with Chris Grassick in 2021 William finally cracked the Group 1 puzzle with his stable star Pyledriver who won the 2021 Coronation Cup at Epsom, followed a year later with the 2022 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, providing conclusive evidence, were it needed, that this partnership is likely to go from strength to strength.
2021 Coronation Cup (Group 1) £187,143 at Epsom PYLEDRIVER (8/1) owned by La Pyle Partnership, trained by William Muir and Chris Grassick and ridden by Martin Dwyer
2021 Churchill Stakes (Listed) £24,385 at Lingfield PYLEDRIVER (6/4 fav) owned by La Pyle Partnership trained by William Muir and Chris Grassick and ridden by Martin Dwyer
2022 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Group 1) £708,875 at Ascot PYLEDRIVER (18/1) owned by La Pyle Partnership, trained by William Muir and Chris Grassick and ridden by P J McDonald
PYLEDRIVER (2022 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, 2021 Coronation Cup)
PHARAOH'S DELIGHT (1989 Phoenix Stakes, 1989 Princess Margaret Stakes, 1989 Windsor Castle Stakes)
POLLARDSTOWN (1979 Triumph Hurdle, 1980 Templegate Aintree Hurdle)
STEPPER POINT (2015 Sapphire Stakes, 2014 Flying Five, 2013 Beverley Bullet)
ROYAL MAIL (1980 Whitbread Gold Cup, 1979 Gold Cup runner-up, 1981 Grand National third)
