Historic Epsom yard The Durdans put on the market for £2.5m

A unique selling point is always handy when putting a property on the market – especially when you are looking for offers in the region of £2.5 million – and trainer Brett Johnson, who is selling historic Epsom yard The Durdans, can certainly point to a distinctive feature.

The resting place of four Derby winners can be found within the grounds, with the graves of Ladas (1894), Sir Visto (1895) and Cicero (1905) all located in woodland close to the paddocks, as is that of Amato – who in 1838 became the first Derby winner born and trained in Epsom.

The stables are perhaps best known for being owned by prime minister Lord Rosebery – owner of Ladas, Sir Visto and Cicero – who had facilities designed in 1881 by noted Victorian architect George Devey.

However, even the most ardent racing aficionado with the deepest of pockets is unlikely to shell out £2.5m just for a slice of history and also included is the Grade II Listed Cicero racing yard with two attached cottages, an indoor riding school, stabling for more than 50 horses, a livery business and roughly 58 acres of pastureland.

The Durdans has been home to Johnson since 2010 and the New Zealand native is now considering his future as a trainer.

The 56-year-old, who has 15 horses in the yard, said: "I'm not sure what we're going to do. It's hard work [training] as we also run a livery business and I'm keen to slow down a bit."

The Durdans: home to Brett Johnson since 2010

Johnson sent out 11 winners from the yard, located on Chalk Lane near Epsom racecourse, last season – his joint-highest since purchasing the facility from Lord Halifax nine years ago.

Epsom's decline as a training centre has been well documented and a Racing Post special report in June revealed the number of horses based in the town had fallen from a high of 650 to as few as 135 before bouncing back to around 215 in 2019.

The town was given a big fillip in 2016 when the Laura Mongan-trained Harbour Law became Epsom's first Classic winner for 47 years courtesy of success in the St Leger.

Other stables on the market

Rhonehurst, Lambourn

Oliver Sherwood's yard – from where star staying chaser Many Clouds was trained – is on the market for £3.5m. Sherwood, who hopes to continue training there, has occupied the yard since 1984. It contains 66 boxes in three yards, a country house, two cottages, a staff hostel, offices, paddocks and an equine pool and horse walker.

Shalfleet, Newmarket

Jeremy Noseda has put his stables on the market for £3.5m after his retirement from training in June. Based on the Bury Road, close to Warren Hill, the property includes 93 boxes in six yards and a house.

St Gatien Cottage, Newmarket

Charlie Fellowes moved his string to Bedford House earlier in May, which means his former base St Gatien Cottage is on the market for £1.4m. The historic yard was built in the late 1880s by Derby-winning trainer Bob Sherwood – and named after the colt who dead-heated with Harvester in 1884. The facility includes 37 boxes, a house and four flats.

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