May 2018

Dawn Run, trained by Willie Mullin’s father, Paddy, has the distinction of being the only horse to win the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown and the Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil, also known as the French Champion Hurdle. However, the mare is best known as the only horse ever to complete the Champion Hurdle – Cheltenham Gold Cup double. Jonjo O’Neill, who rode her to both victories, once said of her, “she was very moody and not a very comfortable ride”.

 

Her win in the Champion Hurdle in 1984, in which she started odds-on and eventually prevailed by three-quarters of a length from 66/1 outsider Cima, was only workmanlike, but the same couldn’t be said of her spine-tingling victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup two years later.

Reunited with Jonjo O’Neill for the first time, Dawn Run was backed as if defeat was out of the question, being sent off 15/8 favourite, despite the lack of experience over fences. In any event, Dawn Run was passed by both Wayward Lad and Forgive ‘N’ Forget on the run to the last fence, but, as Jonjo O’Neill put it later, “She came up the hill like a tyrant” – accompanied by Sir Peter O’Sullevan’s now famous commentary – overhauling Wayward Lad close home to win by a length.

The iconic mare was tragically killed later that year, breaking her neck in fall at Auteil, while attempting to win the French Champion Hurdle for a second time. She is commemorated with a bronze statue, which stands opposite that of Arkle, overlooking the parade ring at Cheltenham.

 

 

 

The race now known as the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup has been a fixture at the Cheltenham Festival since 1946. It was originally called, simply, the Kim Muir Amateur Riders’ Steeplechase, in memory of Lieutenant Ian Kay ‘Kim’ Muir, of the 10th Royal Hussars, who was killed in action during World War II.

 

However, the name of Fulke Walwyn was added to the race title in 1991, following the death of the celebrated National Hunt trainer, at the age of 80, the previous month. All in all, Walwyn trained over 2,000 winners, including 40 at the Cheltenham Festival, and won the National Hunt Trainers’ Championship five times.

 

His major successes included the Cheltenham Gold Cup four times, in 1952, 1962, 1963 and 1973, and the Champion Hurdle twice, in 1962 and 1965. Perhaps his most famous horse ever was Mill House, a.k.a. “The Big Horse”, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1963 and attempted, unsuccessfully, to defend his crown against Arkle the following year. Mill House, ridden by Willie Robinson, attempted to make all the running and jumped the second last in front, but was headed by Arkle between the last two and eventually finished second, beaten 5 lengths.

 

Fulke Walwyn saddled his last runner in 1991, but his record of 40 winners at the Cheltenham Festival wasn’t surpassed until 2012. Even today, 27 years after his death, Walwyn lies fourth in the list of the most successful trainers of all time at the Cheltenham Festival; only Willie Mullins, Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls – all of whom are still training – have saddled more winners.