Fulke Walwyn

Champion National Hunt trainer in 1946/47, 1947/48, 1948/49, 1957/58 and 1963/64, Fulke Walwyn is a legendary name in the history of the Cheltenham Festival. So much so, in fact, that he is commemorated by the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup, currently run as the final race on the third day of the Festival, billed as St. Patrick’s Day Thursday. Between 1946 and 1986, Walwyn saddled 40 winners at the March showpiece meeting, thereby setting a record that stood until 2012. Indeed, over three and half decades since his retirement, Walwyn remains fifth on the all-time list, behind only Willie Mullins, Nicky Henderson, Paul Nicholls and Gordon Elliott.

In his long, illustrious career, Walwyn saddled four winners of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, all sent out from the historicSaxon House Stables in Upper Lambourn, Berkshire, to which he moved in 1944. Walwyn opened his account in the prestigious steeplechase, under slightly fortuitous circumstances, with Mont Tremblant, owned by Dorothy Paget and ridden by Dave Dick, in 1952. Mont Tremblant eventually beat Shaef by 10 lengths, but only after rivals Knock Hard and E.S.B. fell at the final two fences.

A decade later, Walwyn recorded back-to-back victories in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, courtesy of Mandarin, owned by Peggy Hennessy and ridden by Fred Winter, in 1962, and Mill House, owned by Bill Gollings and ridden by Willie Robinson, in 1963. The latter was unfortunate to be a direct contemporary of the legendary Arkle, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1964, 1965 and 1966, but remains the joint-fourth highest-rated steeplechases in the history of Timeform, alongside Kauto Star.

A decade later still, in 1973, Walwyn completed his quarter of Gold Cup winners with The Dikler, owned by Peggy August and ridden by Ron Barry. The Dikler actually ran in the Cheltenham Gold Cup seven years running between 1970 and 1976, but enjoyed his day in the sun when reeling in the odds-on favourite Pendil on the run-in to win by a short-head.