Jim Wilson

[IanDavies]

Unbelievably, I was on YouTube literally in the last 30 minutes and I saw a clip of the 1981 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

I now visit the RP website and Jim Wilson has died.

The first amateur since 1948, I think Peter O’Sullevan said, to ride a Cheltenham Gold Cup winner.

He was, of course, also the pilot in that controversial race at Kempton which IIRC resulted in a change to the way the CSF is calculated.

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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"

[patriot1]

I think he was the top jockey at the 81 festival as well which was some feat for an amateur.

[IanDavies]

Obituary: https://www.racingpost.com/news/latest/corinthian-who-scaled-the-festival-heights-with-little-owl-and-willie-wumpkins/575973

I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"

[Gladiateur]

Willie Wumpkins was one of my favourite horses when I was getting into racing; Little Owl wasn’t bad, either.

Rest in peace, Gentleman Jim.

[Cancello]

I saw Little Owl win the first ever staging of the Timeform Chase, which was for first and second season chasers. He was in his second season as a chaser, had already won the Peter Marsh, and had his task made easier when a certain Wayward Lad, in his novice season, unseated Tommy Carmody at the last on the far side.

[IanDavies]

IIRC I saw Little Owl win at Doncaster in the December of the season he won the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

And as a student I was at Nottingham when he ran and won there.

I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"

[IanDavies]

Just look at those Haydock Park fences in all their former glory – if ever a racecourse was ruined: https://youtu.be/3Sk-pfD0ZQE

I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
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https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"

[Cork All Star]

Those far off days when Nottingham staged National Hunt racing. Royal Gait won there twice before he triumphed in the Champion Hurdle.

And yes, Haydock used to have proper fences. I used to love going to the jumps there. Looking at the track now, it is enough to make you weep.

Bring on the moaning old man accusations – I don’t care!!

[Author]

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