A LEGENDARY racing and hunting farm in Highworth is set to go under the hammer next month.

Common Farm, which has a guide price of £4m, is being auctioned on July 11 by Kidson-Trigg Chartered Surveyors and Auctioneers.

It is the first time it has come on the market since 1947 and was the home of the late John Manners – the racing and hunting personality, affectionately known as Johnny Manners.

The 406 acres at Common Farm have been associated with the names of Aintree Foxhunters and Grand National careers, and is on the borders of the VWH and the Old Berks hunts.

A spokesman for Kidson-Trigg said: “John’s father moved to Common Farm in 1926 when John was six months old, first renting the farm and then buying it in 1947.

“John persuaded his father to have a few racehorses and they had a fair bit of success.

“John’s passion was breeding and racing horses and he won many races under Jockey Club rules when he took out a trainer’s licence, including Knight Of Love, his first Cheltenham winner, and Cavalero who, after winning many Point to Points, won both the Aintree and Cheltenham Foxhunters.

“John also liked to buy cheap, problematic horses which often went on to win.

“Killeshin, a £1,200 cripple, won £70,000 under rules, including the Eider Chase and the Aintree Foxhunters and came sixth and seventh in the Grand National.”

The farm, which will go for sale by public auction on July 11 unless previously sold, is set in 406 acres of mainly old permanent pasture, with a large detached 17th century period stone and brick farmhouse complete with an adjacent extensive range of period brick and stone farm buildings all in their original condition.

For more information visit www.kidsontrigg.co.uk.