Champion jockey, Classic-winning trainer and the man who beat the mighty Arkle

George William Robinson was born on August 5, 1934 and was a 19-year-old amateur when riding his first winner, Reinstated (trained by his father George) in a bumper at Navan.

He made his name as a dual-purpose rider and was champion jockey in Ireland in 1958 according to the method of calculation at the time, with 46 Flat and jumps wins combined. In that same year he rode Paddy's Point to be runner-up in both the Derby (beaten five lengths by Hard Ridden) and the Irish Derby.

Like his contemporary Stan Mellor, who has also died this month, Robinson weighed only 9st and was too small to be a conventional jump jockey, but he soon concentrated on that branch of the sport, having already won the Irish Grand National on Kilballyown.

He won the Cathcart Chase at Cheltenham on Quita Que for Dan Moore in 1961 and the following season, after moving to England, linked up with Fulke Walwyn to win the Hennessy Gold Cup on Mandarin and the Champion Hurdle on the grey Anzio.

In 1963, by now Walwyn's stable jockey, he won the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Mill House, who beat Irish champion Fortria by 12 lengths and was widely regarded as the best young steeplechaser since Golden Miller.

That opinion seemed vindicated later that year when Mill House beat Arkle on their first meeting, in the Hennessy Gold Cup. He led nearly all the way as Arkle (who received 5lb) faded into third place after slipping on landing three out.

Arkle beats Mill House in the 1964 Gold Cup to avenge his defeat in the previous year's HennessyCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Mill House then cantered home in the King George VI Chase and was expected to retain his title when the pair met again in the 1964 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

In one of the legendary races in racing history, Mill House set the pace as usual and Arkle challenged on the home turn. When Robinson used the whip, the response was generous but inadequate and Arkle forged clear to triumph by five lengths.

That was the first of four races in which Arkle avenged his Hennessy defeat. Mill House developed leg and back trouble and was never the same again, being beaten 20 lengths into second place in the 1965 Gold Cup. A great steeplechaser, he was unlucky to be foaled in the same year as the supreme champion.

Meanwhile Robinson and Walwyn triumphed in the Grand National with Team Spirit in 1964 and a second Champion Hurdle with Kirriemuir in 1965.

Team Spirit looked beaten halfway up the long Aintree run-in but the jockey, partnering the veteran in the National for the fifth time, rode a Flat-race finish worthy of Epsom to catch Purple Silk in the last few strides and triumph by half a length.

Kirriemuir set the record for the longest-priced Champion Hurdle winner when scoring at odds of 50-1.

Just over an hour before Team Spirit's Grand National, jockey and trainer had won the Liverpool Handicap Hurdle with Sempervivum, who was probably superior to their two Champion Hurdle winners.

They added a third Hennessy with Man Of The West in 1968 and the jockey retired from the saddle in 1970.

Robinson got off to a splendid start to his training career at Stepaside stables on the Curragh, winning the Irish 2,000 Guineas and Cork and Orrery (now Diamond Jubilee) Stakes with King's Company in 1971.

Willie Robinson: rode the winners of the Grand National, Gold Cup and two Champion HurdlesCredit: Patrick McCann

King's Company, owned by US tycoon Bert Firestone, was ridden by Freddy Head to his Classic victory and survived an objection by Lester Piggott on the runner-up.

That remained easily the highlight of his second career, although he won the Cork and Orrery again with Kearney in 1980. He retired in 2003.