Linwell

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Linwell
SireRosewell
GrandsireOrwell
DamRubia Linda
DamsireArran Chief
SexGelding
Foaled1948[1]
CountryIreland
ColourBay
BreederJames F. Delany
OwnerDavid Brown
TrainerIvor Herbert & Charlie Mallon
Major wins
Mildmay Memorial Chase (1956)
Cheltenham Gold Cup (1957)

Linwell (foaled 1948) was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1957 Cheltenham Gold Cup. Originally named Floral Tribute he was imported to England in 1953 and was trained by the journalist Ivor Herbert for the businessman David Brown. After beginning his career in point-to-point races he made rapid progress when switched to professional steeplechasing winning the Mildmay Memorial Chase in 1956 and the Gold Cup in the following year. In two subsequent attempts at the Gold Cup he had little luck: he unseated his jockey when hampered by a falling rival in 1958 and finished second in 1959 after being badly baulked and almost brought down at the final fence.

Background

Linwell was a small bay gelding with a broad white

socks,[2] bred in Ireland by James F. Delany.[3] He was sired by Rosewell, a British-bred horse who won the Irish Derby in 1938 and whose other offspring included the Champion Hurdle winner Distel.[4] His dam Rubia Linda came from a family which produced several other good jumpers: her sister Miss Kilcash was the dam of the mare Kerstin
who became one of Linwell's biggest rivals.

As a five-year-old he was bought for £750 from the County Tipperary-based horse-dealer Paddy Quinn, by Ivor Herbert on behalf of his friend and patron David Brown, the owner of Aston Martin. Herbert was a well-known racing journalist and the potential conflict of interest led to the racing authorities banning him from holding a trainer's licence: his horses were therefore officially trained by Charlie Mallon, the head of his stable staff ("head lad"). The gelding was originally named Floral Tribute but his name was changed after he moved to England.[5]

Racing career

Early career

Linwell began his career on the amateur

Queen Mother.[7]

1956/57 National Hunt season

In late 1956 Linwell established himself as a leading Gold Cup contender with a win over Kerstin. In his final prep race for the Cheltenham race he was beaten by Pointsman in a race at

Sir Ken (a three-time winner of the Champion Hurdle), Gay Donald and Rose Park (King George VI Chase). Scudamore restrained Linwell towards the rear of the field as Rose Park set the pace before moving up to join the leaders approaching the straight. With Rose Park fading, the race appeared to lie between Linwell, Kerstin and Pointsman on the final turn. At the penultimate obstacle the mare made a bad mistake, badly hampering Pointman and handing the advantage to Linwell who jumped the last a length in front. Linwell stayed on strongly up the run-in to win by a length from Kerstin with Rose Park five lengths back in third.[5]

Later career

In November 1957 Linwell carried top weight of 170 pounds in the inaugural running of the

Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury Racecourse. He finished second, beaten three lengths by the French-bred six-year-old Mandarin to whom he was conceding sixteen pounds.[8] He also won twice and finished second on two other occasions that season.[9] On 13 March Linwell started second favourite, behind Mandarin, as he attempted to win his second Gold Cup. Eight fences from the finish Mandarin fell, badly hampering Linwell who unseated Michael Scudamore. With the two leading contenders out of the contest, the race was won by Kerstin.[5]

In December 1958 Linwell jumped poorly when beaten at odds of 1/8 in a chase at Windsor Racecourse.[10] He made another attempt to win the Gold Cup in March 1959 and started the 11/2 third favourite behind Taxidermist and Roddy Owen. As the leaders approached the final fence the race appeared lie between Linwell (now ridden by Fred Winter), Pas Seul and Lochroe with Roddy Owen four lengths back in third. Pas Seul fell, badly obstructing Linwell who in turn hampered Lochroe, allowing Roddy Owen to sweep into the lead. Linwell rallied up the run-in but was unable to catch the leader and finished second, beaten three lengths.[5]

Assessment and honours

In their book, A Century of Champions, based on the Timeform rating system, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Linwell an "average" Gold Cup winner.[11] He is remembered in the name of Linwell Close, a residential street in Cheltenham.[12]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Linwell (IRE), bay gelding, 1948[1]
Sire
Rosewell (GB)
1935 		Orwell (GB)
1929 		Gainsborough Bayardo
Rosedrop
Golden Hair Golden Sun
Tendril
Bower of Roses (GB)
1926 		Roseland William the Third
Electric Rose
Glory Stornoway
Lass o' the Glen
Dam
Rubia Linda (GB)
1936 		Arran Chief (GB)
1924 		Pomme-de-Terre Polymelus
Homestead
Corrie Invillie Holiday House
Waveline
Toy Fish (GB)
1926 		Yutoi Santoi
She
Candle Fish Troutbeck
Candelabra (Family: 17-b)[13]

References

  1. ^ a b "Linwell pedigree". Equineline. 22 April 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  2. ^ Hugh McMahon (24 April 2016). "Linwell images". The Sport Horse Show and Breed Database. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  3. ^ "1950s – Cheltenham". Cheltenham Festival official site.
  4. ^ "The Curragh Racecourse – Irish Derby 150". The Curragh Racecourse.
  5. ^
    ISBN 1-84018-381-0
    .
  6. ^ "White and Gold" (20 January 1956). "Linwell can win Mildmay Memorial". Glasgow Herald.
  7. ^ "Jockey played a major role on horse racing's greatest stages". Western Daily Press. 20 March 2014.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ "White and Gold" (13 March 1958). "Scottish hunter's splendid finish". Glasgow Herald.
  9. ^ "White and Gold" (12 February 1958). "Polar Flight meets Gold Cup winner". Glasgow Herald.
  10. Glasgow Herald
    .
  11. ISBN 9781901570151
    .
  12. ^ "Cheltenham Areas: History of Swindon Village and Wyman's Brook". cheltenham4u.co.uk. Archived from the original on 30 March 2016.
  13. ^ "Biddy – Family 17-b". Thoroughbred Bloodlines. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
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