1990-1997 M Bruce
In 1990 M Bruce built Whitcoombe House and stables in Upper Lambourn which, at that stage, had 34 stables. When Charlie Mann took over the stables in 1998, he increased its capacity to 54 and remained there for 14 years. The stables are ideally placed at the foot of the famous gallops, whilst also enjoying seclusion from the hustle and bustle of life in Lambourn village.
1998-2012 Charlie Mann
Charles James Mann, born on 3rd April 1958 in Dumfries, left school aged 15 to join the Newmarket stable, Flint Cottage, run by Peter Poston. After a period with Poston he became an apprentice at Boroughbridge, Yorkshire under the guidance of Tony Gillam, partnering his first winner, La Valse, at Southwell in the Burton Joyce Novice Hurdle. His promise was recognised by Nicky Henderson and Charlie moved to Windsor House Stables, Lambourn in 1979. He turned professional and always dreamt of winning the Grand National, or the equally thrilling Czech equivalent, the Velka Pardubicka. Sadly, he attempted the Aintree Grand National 4 times, each time on a seeming no-hoper; in 1981 on Tenecoon 100/1 he was unseated at the 11th, the open ditch; in 1983 on Williamson 100/1 he was brought down at The Chair; in 1986 on Doubleuagain 500/1 he was knocked over at the 17th; in 1987 on Lucky Rew 500/1 he was unseated at the first and thought, enough is enough.
1995 Douglas Concrete Handicap Chase at Uttoxeter IT'S A SNIP 6/1 owned by the Icy Fire Partnership, trained by Charlie Mann and ridden by Jason Kavanagh
1995 Velka Pardubicka (Czech) IT'S A SNIP 7/2 jt fav owned by the Icy Fire Partnership, trained and ridden by Charlie Mann
1995 Widnes Handicap Hurdle at Haydock CELIBATE 15/2 owned by Stamford Bridge Partnership, trained by Charlie Mann and ridden by Muredach Kelly
1996 Stakis Casinos November Novices Chase at Cheltenham CELIBATE 6/4 owned by Stamford Bridge Partnership, trained by Charlie Mann and ridden by Richard Dunwoody
1996 Cusop Handicap Chase at Hereford IT'S A SNIP 5/1 owned by the Icy Fire Partnership, trained by Charlie Mann and ridden by Jason Kavanagh
1997 Ferry Boat Handicap Chase at Kempton CELIBATE 7/4 fav owned by Stamford Bridge Partnership, trained by Charlie Mann and ridden by Richard Dunwoody
1997 Frogmore Handicap Chase at Ascot CELIBATE 8/1 owned by Stamford Bridge Partnership, trained by Charlie Mann and ridden by Mick Fitzgerald
1999 Game Spirit Chase at Newbury CELIBATE 7/2 owned by Stamford Bridge Partnership, trained by Charlie Mann and ridden by Mick Fitzgerald
1999 BMW Grade 1 Chase at Punchestown CELIBATE 7/1 owned by Stamford Bridge Partnership, trained by Charlie Mann and ridden by Richard Dunwoody
2000 Archmold Handicap Chase at Ascot CELIBATE 100/30 owned by Stamford Bridge Partnership, trained by Charlie Mann and ridden by Noel Fehily
2000 Pertemps Novices Handicap Chase at Kempton MORAL SUPPORT 7/2 owned by T Yates, trained by Charlie Mann and ridden by Noel Fehily
2000 Wayward Lad Novices Handicap Chase at Newbury MORAL SUPPORT 13/8 fav owned by T Yates, trained by Charlie Mann and ridden by Noel Fehily
2000 Geoff Hubbard Memorial Handicap Chase at Huntingdon MORAL SUPPORT 11/4 fav owned by T Yates, trained by Charlie Mann and ridden by Noel Fehily
2000 John Hughes Chase at Chepstow MORAL SUPPORT 7/1 owned by T Yates, trained by Charlie Mann and ridden by Noel Fehily
2001 Desert Orchid Chase at Wincanton CELIBATE 8/1 owned by Stamford Bridge Partnership, trained by Charlie Mann and ridden by Noel Fehily
2006 Sharp Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham MOON OVER MIAMI 16/1 owned by Mrs A E Fulton & M T Lynch, trained by Charlie Mann and ridden by Noel Fehily
2007 Halloween Trophy at Newbury MOON OVER MIAMI 7/2 owned by Mrs A E Fulton & M T Lynch, trained by Charlie Mann and ridden by Noel Fehily
2008 Gloucestershire Trainers Championship Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham KATIE'S TUTOR 10/1 owned by Bill Adams, trained by Charlie Mann and ridden by Noel Fehily
2008 Summer Listed Handicap Hurdle at Market Rasen KATIE'S TUTOR 7/1 owned by Bill Adams, trained by Charlie Mann and ridden by Noel Fehily
2008 Casinos Handicap Hurdle at Market Rasen KATIE'S TUTOR 12/1 owned by Bill Adams, trained by Charlie Mann and ridden by Noel Fehily
2009 Bonus 25 Hurdle at Kempton KATIE'S TUTOR 9/1 owned by Bill Adams, trained by Charlie Mann and ridden by Noel Fehily
2012-present Jonathan Portman
Jonathan Portman was a successful amateur rider, partnering flat race winners in France and National Hunt winners in England. He then gained training experience in Australia and the USA, but arguably his spells with Jonathan Pease in Chantilly and Luca Cumani in Newmarket were invaluable to him. He trained point-to-pointers and some Arabian horses, but then launched his training career under Rules in 1998. One of his early successes was with Annie Byers in the Tattersalls EBF Mares Chase Handicap Final, while in 2008 he won the Toteswinger Heritage Handicap Stakes with Spanish Bounty. In 2012 he jumped at the opportunity to move to Whitcoombe House, Upper Lambourn, taking over from the successful Charlie Mann, and soon put his stamp on the stables, notching up Listed and Group wins and Royal Ascot successes. To date his most successful horse has been Mrs Danvers who won the incredibly valuable Weatherbys Super Sprint in 2016, in addition to the St Hugh's Listed Fillies Stakes and the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes. Other successes include Annecdote winning the 2013 Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot and the Oak Tree Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, and Royal Razalma landing the 2014 Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes.
2004 Tattersalls EBF Mares Listed Chase Handicap Final at Uttoxeter ANNIE BYERS 3/1 owned by M J Vandenberghe, trained by Jonathan Portman and ridden by Joe Tizzard
2007 Turf Italia EBF Novice Stakes at Newmarket SPANISH BOUNTY 14/1 owned by The Farleigh Court Racing Partnership, trained by Jonathan Portman and ridden by Eddie Ahern
2008 Toteswinger Heritage Handicap Stakes at Newmarket SPANISH BOUNTY 33/1 owned by The Farleigh Court Racing Partnership, trained by Jonathan Portman and ridden by Tom Queally
2011 Reading Post Handicap at Windsor SPANISH BOUNTY 7/1 owned and trained by Jonathan Portman and ridden by Eddie Ahern
2013 Sandringham Listed Handicap at Royal Ascot ANNECDOTE 11/1 owned by Tom Edwards & Partners, trained by Jonathan Portman and ridden by Richard Kingscote
2013 Oak Tree Group 3 Stakes at Goodwood ANNECDOTE 14/1 owned by Tom Edwards & Partners, trained by Jonathan Portman and ridden by Richard Kingscote
2014 Markel Estates Fillies Stakes at Goodwood ROYAL RAZALMA 10/1 owned by David and Gwynn Joseph, trained by Jonathan Portman and ridden by Richard Kingscote
2014 Cornwallis Group 3 Stakes at Newmarket ROYAL RAZALMA 16/1 owned by David and Gwynn Joseph, trained by Jonathan Portman and ridden by Richard Kingscote
2016 British Fillies EBF Fillies Stakes at Windsor MRS DANVERS 4/5 fav owned by Turf Club 16, trained by Jonathan Portman and ridden by R Clark
2016 Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury MRS DANVERS 9/2 owned by Turf Club 16, trained by Jonathan Portman and ridden by Luke Morris
2016 Bathwick Tyres St Hugh’s Fillies Listed Stakes at Newbury MRS DANVERS 5/2 owned by Turf Club 16, trained by Jonathan Portman and ridden by Richard Kingscote
2016 Cornwallis Group 3 Stakes at Newmarket MRS DANVERS 2/1 owned by Turf Club 16, trained by Jonathan Portman and ridden by R Clark
2019 Bosra Sham Fillies Listed Stakes MILD ILLUSION 10/1 owned by the Old Stoic Racing Club, trained by Jonathan Portman and ridden by Josephine Gordon
MRS DANVERS (20/16 Cornwallis Stakes, Weatherbys Super Sprint, St Hugh's Stakes)
CELIBATE (1999 BMW Chase, 2001 Desert Orchid Stakes)
ANNECDOTE (2013 Sandringham Stakes, Oak Tree Stakes)
ROYAL RAZALMA (2014 Cornwallis Stakes)
MORAL SUPPORT (2000 John Hughes Chase)
