Fond memories of a festival folk hero plus a Gold Cup-winning trainer's tips
Whetting the appetite for Cheltenham every day until we're off and running
Festival Legends: Willie Wumpkins
His name might not carry the same kudos but Willie Wumpkins has forever earned his place among a select band of four-time festival winners, including the mighty Arkle and magnificent Istabraq, and he is perhaps the most remarkable name on that list given the last three of those wins came when aged in double digits and all in the same race.
Trained in Ireland by Adrian Maxwell for his aunt Jane Pilkington, Willie Wumpkins looked a novice of great promise when he won what is now the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle as an 11-1 shot on his first visit to the festival at the age of five in 1973.
Named after Bill Harrison, one of the owner's friends, Willie Wumpkins was plagued with a serious heart issue after his first festival success, drastically losing condition and having to be painstakingly nursed back to full fitness.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on inFeatures
Last updated
Copy- Captain Marvel: how a modern master of Cheltenham and a genuine pioneer executed one of the shocks of the year
- 'We’re delighted with how it's going' - joint-trainers prepare for exciting year after Flat string is doubled
- 'We’ve had to work hard this sales season' - Kennet Valley seeking to build on success with biggest string
- Alastair Down's archives: the great writer recalls Coneygree's glorious victory in the 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup
- Kauto Star: the extraordinary talent who became the benchmark for sheer undiluted quality
- Captain Marvel: how a modern master of Cheltenham and a genuine pioneer executed one of the shocks of the year
- 'We’re delighted with how it's going' - joint-trainers prepare for exciting year after Flat string is doubled
- 'We’ve had to work hard this sales season' - Kennet Valley seeking to build on success with biggest string
- Alastair Down's archives: the great writer recalls Coneygree's glorious victory in the 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup
- Kauto Star: the extraordinary talent who became the benchmark for sheer undiluted quality