The site upon which Hodcott House and its adjacent stables at West Ilsley now stand received several references in the Domesday Book, with Ralph de Mortimer named as its original landholder back in 1089.

It wasn't until a few years later though that Mick Channon came along to succeed a long list of successful trainers as West Ilsley made the switch from livestock farming to racehorse training at the beginning of the 20th Century.

Captain Richard Gooch was the first documented trainer to lease the yard from the Lockinge Estate in 1919 but it wasn't until 1962 and The Hon. John Jacob Astor's purchase and subsequent expansion of the yard that West Ilsley became a real force in racing.

This was primarily due to the legendary exploits of Major W.R Hern. From 1963 to 1989, The Major sent out no fewer than 25 Classic Winners from West Ilsley with Brigadier Gerard, Bustino, Henbit, Troy and Nashwan among them.

Height of Fashion might not have been a Classic Winner, but the Major's handling of her to multiple group victories was enough to convince Sheikh Hamdam Al Maktoum to purchase her from The Queen. Her Majesty in turn, bought West Ilsley with the proceeds in 1982.

After Major Hern's departure from West Ilsley at the start of the 1990's his successor, Lord Huntingdon continued the Yard's tradition of sending out top class winners, with Drum Taps being the most memorable, winning back-to-back Ascot Gold Cups in 1992 and 1993.

In 1999 the current incumbent arrived, some 991 years after The Domesday Survey was commissioned. M.R Channon's own surveyors consented to his purchase of the yard from Her Majesty and although he’s not exactly from the same mould as Captain Gooch, J.J Astor, Major Hern or even Queen Elizabeth II, Mick is well aware of the tradition surrounding West Ilsley.