Tom Dascombe set for Lambourn return following split with Michael Owen

Tom Dascombe, who will send out his last runner from Michael Owen's Manor House Stables on Saturday, has secured a return to Lambourn to continue his training career in April.

Dascombe, 48, has agreed a lease on Uplands – a yard made famous by Fred Winter and most recently occupied by Warren Greatrex – and is looking forward to starting a new chapter next month.

He spent 12 years at Manor House, from where he trained Brown Panther to win the 2014 Irish St Leger, and will have his final runner from the Cheshire stable when Misty Grey runs at Wolverhampton on Saturday.

"Misty Grey will be my last runner from Manor House and I'll be returning to Lambourn from April 1 after signing an agreement at Uplands," Dascombe told the Racing Post.

"I can't wait to move home and I know the gallops in Lambourn very well. I'm delighted I've already got horses based in Lambourn waiting to go and we're very much looking forward to the next chapter.

"I must thank my new landlords at Uplands, Amber Varcoe and Dominic Hoult, for their support and a mutual desire to see this great yard among the winners at the biggest festivals and in the best company."

Widespread surprise greeted Owen's announcement in December that Dascombe would be leaving, with the trainer saying the news came as a "complete shock". However, Andrew Black, the ex-footballer's business partner at Manor House, said his own relationship with the trainer had become difficult.

Last month, Hugo Palmer was unveiled as Dascombe's successor as salaried trainer at Manor House and is planning to relocate from Newmarket during Cheltenham Festival week.

Misty Grey's appearance in the ITV4-televised Listed MansionBet Lady Wulfruna Stakes (2.40) will signal the end of Dascombe's role at Manor House.

Michael Owen and Tom Dascombe enjoyed a successful partnership over 12 yearsCredit: Edward Whitaker

Dascombe said: "I had a wonderful time at Manor House, enjoying Classic success and training numerous winners, and it would be brilliant to go out on a high with Misty Grey.

"I'm hugely grateful to Michael Owen and Andrew Black for affording me the opportunity to develop the stable effectively from scratch to a thriving operation that has yielded well over 700 winners.

"We've shared memories that will be impossible to erase and I'll forever take great pride in training Michael's homebred Brown Panther to Classic and Royal Ascot victory."

Having assisted Ralph Beckett and spent two years with Mike de Kock, Dascombe made an instant impact when he started his own training career in Lambourn in 2005.

Excelling with modestly bought two-year-olds in particular, he won two Group 2s in as many days at Newmarket's July meeting in 2008 before teaming up with Owen the following year.

The pair most notably found success with Brown Panther, who won the Irish St Leger, Dubai Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup and King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot as well as finishing second in the St Leger. He earned more than £1.1 million in prize-money before suffering a fatal injury when defending his Irish St Leger crown in 2015.

Dascombe, who sent out a career-best 79 winners in 2012, gained other Royal Ascot victories with Ceiling Kitty in the Queen Mary in 2012, her son Arthur Kitt in the 2018 Chesham Stakes and Rhythm Of Light in the 2011 Sandringham.

He also trained popular sprinter Kachy, who won the 2019 All-Weather Sprint Championship final and finished second in the 2016 Commonwealth Cup.

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