JP McManus is 4/1 in places to have his most successful ever tally of winners at the Cheltenham Festival.
McManus already has a multi-decade haul of 84 winners, making him the most successful owner in festival history.
He heads into yet another Cheltenham Festival with over 50 runners spread across four days, many of them with leading chances and several of them the betting market favourites.
So how might the week unfold for those famous green and gold colours. Might JP have winners on every single day of the Festival? Let’s cast an eye over each day:
Tuesday 10th March
JP McManus has already experienced nine Champion Hurdle winners previously, and will be hoping that THE NEW LION can notch up win number ten for him.
Given Constitution Hill’s well-documented jumps retirement, and given the fact that he only has to see off eight other rivals, there will never be a more opportune time for Dan Skelton’s gelding to land jumps racing’s hurdling blue ribband.
Elsewhere on the Tuesday card, JP’s horses appear to be in with some great shouts in the handicaps. SARATOGA is a well fancied 11/2 shot in the Fred Winter after being brought along nicely by Padraig Roche, while it’s a toss up between IROKO and JAGWAR as to who might take the Ultima.
McLAUREY and DOWN MEMORY LANE are live contenders in the Plate that day too.
Wednesday 11th March
It would come as a big surprise if the Willie Mullins-trained MAJBOROUGH didn’t give JP his first ever Queen Mother Champion Chase, a race that has eluded him for many a long year.
The gelding should justify his short odds. Obviously JONBON can’t be ruled out either if he runs.
JP’s entries in the Coral Cup are always worth being onside with, so keep a watchful eye on IBERICO LORD, KOPECK DE MEE and PUTURHANDSTOGETHER.
Eleven-year-old FAKIR D’OUDARIES is big odds in the Cross Country, while INTHEPOCKET and PETIT TONNERRE are outside sleepers in the Grand Annual.
Thursday 12th March
A couple of McManus’s best chasers could go head-to-head in the Ryanair Chase. FACT TO FILE is currently trading at odds-on to lift the trophy, should he run in it. JONBON would have a great chance in the race as well, should he take up that engagement.
HONESTY POLICY is definitely a danger to Teahupoo in the Stayers’ Hurdle. He was last seen staying on third in the Long Walks Hurdle at Ascot.
Friday 13th March
McManus is blessed with plenty of talented horses on the final day of the Festival, with another Gold Cup winner being a distinct possibility.
Lining up for the Festival feature will be last year’s victor INOTHEWAYURTHINKIN, SPILLANE’S TOWER and I AM MAXIMUS. It remains to be seen whether FACT TO FILE is supplemented into the contest.
DINOBLUE should pick up the mares prize, while French-import PROACTIF is attracting plenty of betting interest for the Triumph Hurdle.
*Odds subject to change - prices accurate at the time of writing*
