1981 Cheltenham Gold Cup Extended footage

[@silenusmeduseon8814]

40 years. Night Nurse was a favourite.

[@johnjenkins4392]

RIP Mr Jim Wilson, a wonderful jockey and wonderful man. Deserved winner of the Gold Cup. The year before this, he was probably the only amateur to be crowned leading jockey at the festival with 3 winners. (3 day festival in those days)

[@jag0309]

Amazing!! Seeing so many of my old heroes both human and equine.

[@topmanjose]

Superb field that year and superb footage as well Nice one.

[@barbaradyson6951]

Night nurse suffered from a fibrulating heart like sprinter sacre but back then they had no cure. He won 35 races makes you wonder how good he would have been if he hadn't had that problem.

[@jaymacgee_A_Bawbag_Blethering]

I was always a Night Nurse fan , super talented and multi discipline superstar , never quite handled fences as well as he did hurdles , but he was good enough ! Ty Ps - backed Silver Buck in both his King George wins and his Gold Cup victory the following year , but backed Diamond Edge this year 🤦‍♂️ 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@dawnkeir549]

what a wonderful race some high class horses here

[@thomassloan383]

Spartan missile, in my opinion would have won so many big races if the major had let a decent jockey on him,,,,

[@rohansrider]

Poor Silver Buck, a very nervous and fretful horse.He won in 1982 and was again placed but was killed at home. He took fright and crashed into a wall and suffered horrendous injuries that caused his death. Very good horse on his day. These horses were representative of the very best of chasing, John Francome - pure class as a jockey. Was European junior show jumping champion he could really ride .

[@jabhookjabcross4231]

Rosalind Mercer I agree with you totally. He was my favourite. I remember seeing him beat Willie wumpkins over hurdles at Leicester before he went chasing. He was so game and so brilliant. Hardly ever beaten his record is better than any chaser I can think of. Micheal Dickinson is clear he was the best he had including in the 83 gold cup when he said he was no where near to being fit. They aren't machines but he had less off days than any horse I can remember and his end was such a sad day. Bradley was set to ride him when the crackle of his waterproofs spooked bucket leading to him running headlong into the wall. He deserved better. A true champion he had earned the best retirement could give.

[@TheJuzi]

Shout out for Spartan Missile.

[@mervyncharter717]

Amazing that 13yrs old Tied Cottage was only 8/1 in this 15 runner field, so he was clearly fancied. Would he have been caught if he did not fall when 25 lenghths clear.

[@johnjenkins4392]

Well Mervyn, I think he fell too early (6th fence) to be able to judge. My estimate is that age would have caught up with him. He might well have been placed though.

[@debbiekinsella8806]

pity night nurse couldn't quite do it!

[@waqarkhan25]

does any know what happened to Little Owl after this I don't he was in the gold races after this race

[@MEECHIO]

Sadly the winner never contested another Gold Cup. Was only a 7 year old when winning this race, a case of what might have been.

[@shaunspadah5790]

little owls form deteriated badly afterwards probably earlt retirement

[@markashton5679]

is there any way you can show the 1980 cheltenham gold cup eddie. only gold cup i havnt seen in 40 years.

[@gazowenowen250]

Little owl was a case of could've been jack of trumps was a good horse

[@julzyboy1973]

Was Jack of Trumps a very early JP McManus horse?

[@JakeWalshMusic]

Correct...

[@shaunspadah5790]

deep gale who fell at fence 1 in 82 was another early one

[@NoldorWarrior44]

Yes he was he had a mind of his own.