Jim Wilson
Andrew Jim Wilson was born at Maidstone, Kent, on February 4, 1950. His mother owned Cheltenham Festival winner Herring Gull and was a sister-in-law of Fred Winter.
Andrew Jim Wilson was born at Maidstone, Kent, on February 4, 1950. His mother owned Cheltenham Festival winner Herring Gull and was a sister-in-law of Fred Winter.
Shortly after his first birthday, his family moved to Ireland where he began his racing career. He spent his formative years with trainers Georgie Wells and Paddy Mullins, before spells with Jacko Doyasbere in France, George Owen in Cheshire and Dan Moore back in Ireland.
Shortly after his first birthday, his family moved to Ireland where he began his racing career. He spent his formative years with trainers Georgie Wells and Paddy Mullins, before spells with Jacko Doyasbere in France, George Owen in Cheshire and Dan Moore back in Ireland.
He rode his first winner, Advocate, trained by Moore, in the four-runner Barrow Maiden Plate, an amateur riders’ bumper, at Powerstown Park (today known as Clonmel) on August 27, 1970.
He rode his first winner, Advocate, trained by Moore, in the four-runner Barrow Maiden Plate, an amateur riders’ bumper, at Powerstown Park (today known as Clonmel) on August 27, 1970.
Having returned to England, he went on to become one of the most successful post-war amateur riders. He spent seven years with David Nicholson and it was there that he met his wife, Melinda.
Having returned to England, he went on to become one of the most successful post-war amateur riders. He spent seven years with David Nicholson and it was there that he met his wife, Melinda.
Tall and lean, he fought a constant battle with the scales. His weight restricted his opportunities and he was never champion amateur, although he was runner-up five consecutive times (1978/79 to 1982/83). Nonetheless he rode a total of 205 winners, including seven at the Cheltenham Festival. His most successful season numerically was 27 in 1979/80.
Tall and lean, he fought a constant battle with the scales. His weight restricted his opportunities and he was never champion amateur, although he was runner-up five consecutive times (1978/79 to 1982/83). Nonetheless he rode a total of 205 winners, including seven at the Cheltenham Festival. His most successful season numerically was 27 in 1979/80.
In 1980 he was crowned top jockey at the festival with three wins, having landed the National Hunt Handicap Chase, the Coral Hurdle Final and the Kim Muir Memorial Challenge Cup. However, his greatest triumph came the following year when becoming only the third amateur to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup, landing the race on the Peter Easterby-trained Little Owl.
In 1980 he was crowned top jockey at the festival with three wins, having landed the National Hunt Handicap Chase, the Coral Hurdle Final and the Kim Muir Memorial Challenge Cup. However, his greatest triumph came the following year when becoming only the third amateur to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup, landing the race on the Peter Easterby-trained Little Owl.
In testing conditions, Jim guided Little Owl to beat stablemate Night Nurse by a length and a half, with subsequent Gold Cup winner Silver Buck ten lengths away in third. Sam Waley-Cohen is the only amateur rider to have won the race since following his victory on Long Run in 2011.
In testing conditions, Jim guided Little Owl to beat stablemate Night Nurse by a length and a half, with subsequent Gold Cup winner Silver Buck ten lengths away in third. Sam Waley-Cohen is the only amateur rider to have won the race since following his victory on Long Run in 2011.
Little Owl had been owned by Jim’s aunt Bobby Gundry, for whom Peter Easterby bought the horse out of a field as a four-year-old. Gundry died on the Sunday after the 1980 Cheltenham Festival, leaving Little Owl to Jim and his farmer brother Robin.
Little Owl had been owned by Jim’s aunt Bobby Gundry, for whom Peter Easterby bought the horse out of a field as a four-year-old. Gundry died on the Sunday after the 1980 Cheltenham Festival, leaving Little Owl to Jim and his farmer brother Robin.
In addition to his Gold Cup triumph, Jim also enjoyed a successful Cheltenham Festival partnership with that great public favourite Willie Wumpkins, owned and trained by his mother-in-law Jane Pilkington, winning the Coral Golden Hurdle Final three years in a row (1979-1981), the third victory coming when the horse was 13 years old.
In addition to his Gold Cup triumph, Jim also enjoyed a successful Cheltenham Festival partnership with that great public favourite Willie Wumpkins, owned and trained by his mother-in-law Jane Pilkington, winning the Coral Golden Hurdle Final three years in a row (1979-1981), the third victory coming when the horse was 13 years old.
He rode 15-year-old Otter Way to win the 1983 Horse and Hound Cup at Stratford, seven years after the horse’s previous victory in that race.
He rode 15-year-old Otter Way to win the 1983 Horse and Hound Cup at Stratford, seven years after the horse’s previous victory in that race.
Jim rode in five Grand Nationals but only once completed the course, finishing eighth on Broomy Bank behind Hallo Dandy in 1984. He had ridden Broomy Bank to victory in the Kim Muir Memorial Challenge Cup at Cheltenham earlier that month.
Jim rode in five Grand Nationals but only once completed the course, finishing eighth on Broomy Bank behind Hallo Dandy in 1984. He had ridden Broomy Bank to victory in the Kim Muir Memorial Challenge Cup at Cheltenham earlier that month.
He retired from race riding in 1985 and began training, based at Glenfall Stables, Charlton Kings, near Cheltenham. His first winner as a trainer was Alangrove Sound, ridden by Clive Cox, in a conditional jockeys’ selling hurdle at Wolverhampton on November 25, 1985.
He retired from race riding in 1985 and began training, based at Glenfall Stables, Charlton Kings, near Cheltenham. His first winner as a trainer was Alangrove Sound, ridden by Clive Cox, in a conditional jockeys’ selling hurdle at Wolverhampton on November 25, 1985.
Jim gained a Cheltenham Festival success when Taberna Lord landed the 1987 Coral Golden Hurdle Final under Luke Harvey. He also won the Midlands Grand National in 1994 with Glenbrook D’Or, ridden by Brian Clifford.
Jim gained a Cheltenham Festival success when Taberna Lord landed the 1987 Coral Golden Hurdle Final under Luke Harvey. He also won the Midlands Grand National in 1994 with Glenbrook D’Or, ridden by Brian Clifford.
He trained a total of 75 winners over jumps plus one on the Flat, his last being Seymour Legend at Stratford on March 28, 2015.
He trained a total of 75 winners over jumps plus one on the Flat, his last being Seymour Legend at Stratford on March 28, 2015.
Jim Wilson died on August 29, 2022, aged 72.
Jim Wilson died on August 29, 2022, aged 72.
Cheltenham Gold Cup winner: Little Owl (1981)
Cheltenham Gold Cup winner: Little Owl (1981)
Other big winners:
Other big winners:
1979: Coral Golden Handicap Hurdle Final – Willie Wumpkins
1979: Coral Golden Handicap Hurdle Final – Willie Wumpkins
1980: National Hunt Handicap Chase – Again The Same
1980: National Hunt Handicap Chase – Again The Same
1980: Kim Muir Memorial Challenge Cup Chase – Good Prospect
1980: Kim Muir Memorial Challenge Cup Chase – Good Prospect
1980: Coral Golden Handicap Hurdle Final – Willie Wumpkins
1980: Coral Golden Handicap Hurdle Final – Willie Wumpkins
1981: Peter Marsh Handicap Chase – Little Owl
1981: Peter Marsh Handicap Chase – Little Owl
1981: Tote Double (Cotswold) Chase – Little Owl
1981: Tote Double (Cotswold) Chase – Little Owl
1981: Timeform Chase – Little Owl
1981: Timeform Chase – Little Owl
1981: Coral Golden Handicap Hurdle Final – Willie Wumpkins
1981: Coral Golden Handicap Hurdle Final – Willie Wumpkins
1981: Horse and Hound Cup Champion Hunters’ Chase – Ottery News
1981: Horse and Hound Cup Champion Hunters’ Chase – Ottery News
1982: Tommy Whittle Chase – Little Owl
1982: Tommy Whittle Chase – Little Owl
1983: Pearce Duff Novices’ Chase – Another Breeze
1983: Pearce Duff Novices’ Chase – Another Breeze
1983: Heinz Novices’ Chase – Another Breeze
1983: Heinz Novices’ Chase – Another Breeze
1983: Horse and Hound Cup Champion Hunters’ Chase – Otter Way
1983: Horse and Hound Cup Champion Hunters’ Chase – Otter Way
1984: Kim Muir Memorial Challenge Cup Chase – Broomy Bank
1984: Kim Muir Memorial Challenge Cup Chase – Broomy Bank
