1863 Thomas King, Robert Straffen
Wynbury Stables boasts a rich history, only a very small percentage of which has links to horse racing. As early as July 1863 it was advertised as a desirable freehold residence with stables, and was auctioned on 25th July 1863. The sales catalogue listed it as 'A desirable freehold residence, called Wynbury, with garden, stables and other suitable outbuildings, situated outside the village of West Witton, on the road to Hawes, now in the occupation of Thomas King, together with a small Cottage House and premises near thereto. In addition to the property listed, there are 6 closes of very valuable Freehold land, lying immediately adjoining the Dwelling-House, and known by the names and containing the quantities following, and now occupied by Robert Straffen as yearly tenant:-'
House, Garden etc 20 Perches
Wynbury 4 Acres 1 Rood 4 Perches
Little Wynbury 3 Roods 14 Perches
West Ground A 1 acre 3 Roods 14 Perches
West Ground B 1 Acre 3 Roods 8 Perches
West Ground C 1 Acre 2 Roods 33 Perches
Sparrow Close 3 Acres 3 Roods 28 Perches
Total 15 Acres 1 Perch
The House contains every accommodation for the residence of a small family of respectability, and is in good repair. The Fields are in Meadow and Pasture, and of first-rate quality, and are well fenced and watered, and have access to them by a private occupation road.
NOTE:- Whilst some reports suggest that the 1951 Lincoln Handicap winner Barnes Park was trained at Wynbury Stables by Mr Richard Colven, this is not correct for 2 reasons. Firstly, Dick Colven did live at Wynbury in 1950, but he stabled his horses at Glasgow House, and Barnes Park was only 5th in the 1950 Lincoln. By 1951, Barnes Park, owned by Mr H Lane, had moved trainers and was trained by George Boyd at Dunbar, Scotland.
1977-2019 Edith & Bill Kettlewell
Bill Kettlewell and his wife Edith owned a motel in Wensleydale and Bill bought the filly Mrs McArdy for his wife as a present, although neither of them could have envisaged the great achievements of their filly throughout the 1977 season. On the back of the win the Kettlewell's moved to Wynbury Stables, where they remained as the owners for some considerable time. They owned the winners of some 35 races over a prolonged period, although Mrs McArdy was the horse which brought them their greatest success. Bill died of prostate cancer in November 2019, leaving behind his wife Edith and their 3 children, Stephen, Julie and Linda. When Ferdy Murphy left his Oak Wood Stables, Middleham in 1997, having been there since 1995, the Kettlewell's offered him the chance to lease Wynbury and he was to remain with them for 16 years.
Mrs McArdy, a bay filly by Tribal Chief out of Darling Boy, was foaled in 1974 by 4th Baron Grimthorpe, Christopher Beckett, at his Westhow Hall Stud near York.
In 1975 Lord Grimthorpe decided to sell all of his bloodstock, the majority of which went to trainer Mick Easterby at Sheriff Hutton, Mick, in turn, sold Mrs McArdy to Bill Kettlewell so that he could give it as a present to his wife Edith. She took a while to get the hang of things as a two-year-old and was unplaced in her first 4 races before finishing the season with a flourish, winning 4 consecutive races at Newcastle, Thirsk, Doncaster and Redcar. Even then one would be hard pressed to dream that she was a Classic winning filly. She began her 3-y-o career unplaced in the Tote Spring Handicap at Doncaster before venturing to Newmarket where she surprised many by winning the Tote Free Handicap in the hands of Taffy Thomas. Two weeks later she returned to Newmarket to win the 1000 Guineas at 16/1 when partnered by Edward Hide. More of a sprinter than a stayer, she was unplaced in the Epsom Oaks behind the Queen's Dunfermline (SR 2061), she then won the Fen Ditton Stakes back at Headquarters. She was unplaced in the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood behind Artaius, but later won the Strensall Stakes at York.
1977 Tote Free Handicap at Newmarket MRS MCARDY 8/1 jt fav owned by Mrs Edith Kettlewell, trained by Mick Easterby and ridden by Taffy Thomas
1977 1000 Guineas at Newmarket MRS MCARDY (SR 1906) 16/1 owned by Mrs Edith Kettlewell, trained by Mick Easterby and ridden by Edward Hide
1977 Fen Ditton Stakes at Newmarket MRS MCARDY 7/4 fav owned by Mrs Edith Kettlewell, trained by Mick Easterby and ridden by Edward Hide
1977 Strensall Stakes at York MRS MCARDY evens fav owned by Mrs Edith Kettlewell, trained by Mick Easterby and ridden by Edward Hide
The Wynburry Confusion
Seldom has a race caused so much confusion as the 4.30 Yorkshire Handicap at Ripon on Monday 4th August 1980. At precisely 4.30 the 14 runners were released from the starting stalls, but an offical, retired explosions expert Ernest Green, mistakenly waved his red flag to signify a false start. Although 6 runners immediately returned to the start, the other 8 continued to the winning post, with Wynburry, owned by Mrs Edith Kettlewell, first past the post. After much consideration and deliberation the Stewards decided that it was not a false start, but declared that the race and all bets should be deemed to be void, offering the 14 trainers the chance to take part in a rerun at 5.30pm. In the event only 5 runners went to post in the rerun, the other 9 being declared non-runners. Furthermore, Edward Hide, who rode Swaying Tree in the original race, sustained an injury in the 5.00 and was replaced by Jimmy Bleasdale. At 5.30 a market for the new race was formed, the race being won by Swaying Tree (6/5 fav) from Gin Game (5/2), with the unlucky Wynburry third at 6/1. However, the Sporting Life intervened and decided that Rule 13 suggested that punters should be paid out on original prices, Swaying Tree (4/1), Gin Game (12/1) and Wynburry (14/1). In their defence Rule 13 of Tattersalls Rules clearly stated, 'In the event of a race being ordered to be run over again, or a false start, starting prices shall be regulated by the price at the time of the original off.' Therefore, the Sporting Life ruled that the 9 runners who did not contest the rerun should, for the purposes of betting, be declared runners and punters should lose their money, with the original starting prices on the first 3 home standing. The result of the race:-
Yorkshire Handicap at Ripon on Monday 4th August 1980
1. SWAYING TREE, ridden by Jimmy Bleadale (6/5 fav) or 4/1 if you want
2. GIN GAME, ridden by Tony Ives (5/2) or 12/1 if you prefer
3. WYNBURRY, ridden by C Storry (6/1) or 14/1 if you prefer.
Edith Kettlewell, owner of Wynburry, planned to lodge an appeal with the Jockey Club, but withdrew the appeal once the Jockey Club announed their own inquiry. Was this the only time in which a horse won a race starting with one jockey, Edward Hide, and finishing the race with a second jockey Jimmy Bleasdale? Paul Cook was the first jockey to pull his mount up in the original race, and he was riding Lost for Words. Newspaper headlines made interesting reading. 'Did Green see Red?' 'Did the explosives expert do a demolition job on this race?' 'Don't keep the red flag flying here'
Ferdinand Murphy, universally known as Ferdy, born in County Wexford on 6th November 1948, was the son of a farmer and became an apprentice at the Tipperary yard of Carrick-on-Suir run by Phonsie O'Brien straight after completing his compulsory education. He then joined Paddy Mullins, initially as stable jockey, but later became Head Lad at a time when the stable sent out Harry Harriet to land the 1973 French Champions Stakes. Although he rode over 100 winners, best of which were Anaglog's Daughter in the Aynsley China Cup Chase at Chepstow, Artistic Prince in the 1977 John Jameson Cup at Punchestown and Desu Barker in the Downshire Handicap Hurdle at the famous Punchestown Festival, he will go down in history more for his skill as a trainer. He initially began his training career as understudy to Bill Durkan who was listed as the trainer, but it was generally recognised that Ferdy Murphy was the person behind the success of Anaglogs Daughter and Carrow Boy, so it was no surprise that in 1985 he was invited to become private trainer for Geoff Hubbard at his Worlingworth Hall, Woodbridge, Suffolk stables.
During this period of his career he guided Gee-A to victory in the 1987 Mildmay of Fleet Chase at Cheltenham. However, it was only in 1990 that he was granted a licence to train in his own right, continuing at Hubbard's Suffolk stables. His first official winner was on 27th August 1990 when Sibton Abbey won the lowly Southoe Novices Chase at Huntingdon, followed by a win in the Chequers Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle at Newbury. Each of these early victories laid the foundation to a much bigger chase success at Newbury in 1992 when Sibton Abbey won the Hennessey Cognac Gold Cup Handicap Chase at 40/1. As expected, winning the prestigious race led to other owners wanting their horses trained by Murphy, although Hubbard was keen for Murphy to remain his private trainer, so in April 1994 Murphy travelled to the other side of the country to Somerset, taking over West Buckland stables where he remained for a year. From there he and his partner Janet moved north to Middleham to take charge at Highwall Stables (later Oakwood Stables) owned by Sir Robert Ogden which he was able to lease for 2 years. When his time at Oak Wood came to an end he was fortunate to be offered the chance to transfer to Wynbury Stables on the outskirts of Middleham at West Witton by owners Bill and Edith Kettewell. During his early years in Middleham his stable stars were Paddy's Return and French Holly, the former winning the 1996 Triumph Hurdle, Champion Stayers Hurdle and Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot, the latter landing the 1998 Royal & Sun Alliance Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. Between 2000 and 2013 he won the Scottish Grand National three times, the Irish Grand National once, the Midland Grand National once and the Kerry National at Listowel once. He also chalked up 6 Cheltenham Festival winners in that time period. In 2013 he decided to leave Middleham and make the long journey to Lisieux, Calvados, Normandy, France, and from there to Senonnes, Mayenne in the Loire Valley. In 2015 he was hit with the devastating news that he had cancer and, at the time, was given just 3 months to live, but Ferdy loved to defy the odds, whether with his horses or with his health, and he survived for 4 more years, but died in France on 3rd September 2019 aged 70.
1974 Downshire Handicap Hurdle at Punchestown DESU BARKER 10/1 owned by Mr T Ruane, trained by Paddy Mullins and ridden by Ferdy Murphy
1977 John Jameson Cup at Punchestown ARTISTIC PRINCE trained by Billy Boyers and ridden by Ferdy Murphy
1980 Aynsley China Cup Chase at Chepstow ANAGLOGS DAUGHTER 2/7 fav owned by A N Durkan, trained by Bill Durkan and ridden by Ferdy Murphy
1990 Southoe Novices Chase at Huntingdon SIBTON ABBEY 4/9 fav owned by Geoff Hubbard, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Declan Murphy
1990 Chequers Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle at Newbury SIBTON ABBEY 14/1 owned by Geoff Hubbard, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Mr T J Barry
1992 Farcet Fen Handicap Chase at Huntingdon SIBTON ABBEY 9/2 owned by Geoff Hubbard, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Declan Murphy
1992 Breedon Handicap Chase at Leicester SIBTON ABBEY 3/1 jt fav owned by Geoff Hubbard, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Gee Armytage
1992 Racegoers Remittance Man Amateur Riders Handicap Chase at Cheltenham SIBTON ABBEY (no odds returned) owned by Geoff Hubbard, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Paul Murphy
1992 Hennessey Cognac Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Newbury SIBTON ABBEY 40/1 owned by Geoff Hubbard, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Adrian Maquire
1993 Timeform Hall of Fame Chase at Cheltenham SIBTON ABBEY 16/1 owned by Geoff Hubbard, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Steve Smith-Eccles
1995 Aurelius Juvenile Novices Hurdle at Ascot PADDY'S RETURN 6/1 owned by Paddy O'Donnell, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Lorcan Wyer
1996 Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival PADDY'S RETURN 10/1 owned by Paddy O'Donnell, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Richard Dunwoody
1996 Fulke Walwyn & Kim Muir Chase at the Cheltenham Festival STOP THE WALLER 16/1 owned by Ray Burgen, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Ken Whelan
1997 Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown PADDY'S RETURN 100/30 owned by Paddy O'Donnell, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Norman Williamson
1997 Eagle Taverns Novices Hurdle at Ayr FRENCH HOLLY 3/1 owned by K Flood, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Andrew Thornton
1997 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot PADDY'S RETURN 8/1 owned by Paddy O'Donnell, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Norman Williamson
1997 Old Hall Country Club Novices Hurdle at Haydock FRENCH HOLLY 8/11 fav owned by K Flood, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Andrew Thornton
1998 Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown FRENCH HOLLY 4/1 owned by K Flood, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Andrew Thornton
1998 Sidney Banks Memorial Novices Hurdle at Huntingdon FRENCH HOLLY 8/13 fav owned by K Flood, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Andrew Thornton
1998 Royal & Sun Alliance Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham FRENCH HOLLY 2/1 fav owned by K Flood, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Andrew Thornton
1998 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton FRENCH HOLLY 5/2 owned by K Flood, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Andrew Thornton
2000 Isle of Sky Novices Chase at Kelson PARIS PIKE 9/4 fav owned by Major & Mrs Ivan Straker, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Barry Fenton
2000 Hamilton Memorial Trophy at Kelso PARIS PIKE 10/11 fav owned by Major & Mrs Ivan Straker, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Adrian Maguire
2000 Tom Wragg Trophy at Uttoxeter PARIS PIKE 5/2 fav owned by Major & Mrs Ivan Straker, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Adrian Maguire
2000 Scottish Grand National at Ayr PARIS PIKE 5/1 jt fav owned by Major & Mrs Ivan Straker, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Adrian Maguire
2000 Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter ACKZO 15/8 fav owned by Mrs N L Spence, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Adrian Maguire
2000 Kerry National at Listowel MACS SUPREME 6/1 owned by B McEntaggart, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Timmy Murphy
2001 Maghull Novices Chase at Aintree BALLINCLAY KING 6/1 owned by J Taqvi and B Leatherday, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Adrian Maguire
2004 Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse GRANIT D'ESTRUVAL 33/1 owned by W J Gott, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Brian Harding
2004 King Dry Mix Chase at Ayr JOES EDGE 6/1 owned by Chemipetro Ltd, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Graham Lee
2005 Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown CARLYS QUEST 25/1 owned by Mrs L Neville, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Keith Mercer
2005 Neville Crump Memorial Handicap Chase at Doncaster YOU'RE SPECIAL 7/2 owned by Mrs Diane O'Rourke, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Tom Dreaper
2005 John Smiths Novices Handicap Chase at Aintree JOES EDGE 9/2 owned by Chemipetro Ltd, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Tom Dreaper
2005 Scottish Grand National at Ayr JOES EDGE 20/1 owned by Chemipetro Ltd, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Keith Mercer
2006 Fulke Walwyn & Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival YOU'RE SPECIAL 33/1 owned by Mrs Diane O'Rourke, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Mr R O Harding
2006 National Hunt Challenge Cup Chase at Cheltenham HOT WELD 33/1 owned by S Hubbard Rodwell, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Mr R O Harding
2006 Northumberland Handicap Chase at Newcastle ANOTHER PROMISE 3/1 fav owned by Geoff Hubbard Racing, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Graham Lee
2007 Jewson Novices Handicap Chase at Cheltenham L'ANTARTIQUE 20/1 owned by Mrs A N Durkan, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Graham Lee
2007 Scottish Grand National at Ayr HOT WELD 14/1 owned by S Hubbard Rodwell, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by P J McDonald
2007 Betfred Gold Cup Chase at Sandown HOT WELD 6/1 owned by S Hubbard Rodwell, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Graham Lee
2007 William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase at Cheltenham JOES EDGE 50/1 owned by Chemipetro Ltd, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Davy Russell
2007 Lightning Novices Chase at Huntingdon ANOTHER PROMISE 8/11 fav owned by Geoff Hubbard Racing, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Graham Lee
2007 Central Sports Handicap Hurdle at Haydock NAIAD DU MISSELOT 11/1 owned by Hill, Trembath, Bryan and Outhart, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Graham Lee
2007 Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase at Cheltenham L'ANTARTIQUE 13/2 owned by Mrs A N Durkan, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Graham Lee
2007 Swordlestown Cup Novices Chase at Punchestown ANOTHER PROMISE 5/1 owned by Geoff Hubbard Racing, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Graham Lee
2008 Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival NAIAD DU MISSELOT 7/1 owned by Hill, Trembath, Bryan and Outhart, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Davy Russell
2009 Maghull Novices Chase at Aintree KALAHARI KING 9/4 owned by Mrs J Morgan, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Graham Lee
2010 Blue Square Handicap Chase at Doncaster KALAHARI KING 10/1 owned by Mrs J Morgan, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Graham Lee
2010 National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham POKER DE SIVOLA 14/1 owned by The Johnson Family, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Ms K Walsh
2011 Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown POKER DE SIVOLA 11/1 owned by The Johnson Family, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Timmy Murphy
2011 Centenary Novices Chase at Cheltenham DIVERS 10/1 owned by DPRP Divers Partnership, trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Graham Lee
PADDY'S RETURN (1996 Triumph Hurdle, 1997 Champion Stayers Hurdle, Long Walk Hurdle)
FRENCH HOLLY (1998 Royal & Sun Alliance Hurdle, Christmas Hurdle, Tolworth Hurdle)
POKER DE SIVOLA (2011 Bet365 Gold Cup, 2010 National Hunt Chase)
L'ANTARTIQUE (2007 Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase)
PARIS PIKE (2000 Scottish Grand National)
