Tag Archive for: JP McManus

Max power for McManus in search of record National triumph

/in /by

JP McManus has never hidden his love of the Grand National and claiming the outright record for wins in the great race with a fourth success on Saturday would be the icing on the cake following last month’s Gold Cup triumph.

Cheltenham hero Inothewayurthinkin is absent from the Randox-sponsored Aintree spectacular – but there will be a five-star squad carrying the famous green and gold colours, including the Willie Mullins-trained I Am Maximus, who was so brilliant 12 months ago.

Mullins said on Thursday he feels he has the nine-year-old “exactly where I want him” after two moderate runs at Leopardstown so far this season.

And Frank Berry, racing manager to McManus, is happy to have I Am Maximus leading the team: “We’re going there with some really nice horses and we hope to have a bit of luck on the day.

“Things haven’t been as smooth for I Am Maximus this year and there’s been a few little hiccups along the way, which isn’t ideal, but Willie thinks he’s back in good form.

Randox Grand National 2024 – Grand National Day – Aintree Racecourse
I Am Maximus jumps the last on the way to winning the Randox Grand National (Nigel French for the Jockey Club/PA).

“I’m not sure how he’ll cope with drying ground and he would probably like a bit more juice in the ground, but hopefully he will be all right on the day.

“He couldn’t have done it any better last year, he was very good.”

Mullins also runs Meetingofthewaters, while Gavin Cromwell’s Perceval Legallois is another strongly-fancied Irish raider for McManus following two wins over fences and hurdles this winter.

Berry said of the latter: “We were a little bit disappointed in the autumn, but he turned up trumps at Leopardstown over Christmas and then went back there over hurdles and was very good once again.

“He would maybe like more juice in the ground, but Gavin’s horses are in great form, so he goes there in good order.”

Nicky Henderson’s Chantry House will be a long shot in the McManus silks, but Iroko is among the market leaders for the Cheshire-based team of Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero.

Cheltenham Festival 2023 – Gold Cup Day – Cheltenham Racecourse
Iroko after winning at Cheltenham in 2023 (David Davies for the Jockey Club/PA).

Greenall – son of former Aintree chairman Lord Daresbury, who oversaw the bomb scare National and the void race that never was – commented: “We’d like it a little bit softer, but they’ve done a great job with the ground and it should be perfectly fine.

“Everything has gone well up to this point and it’s very exciting. The plan will be to just get him settled in mid-division and enjoying himself and then take it from there.”

Irish trainers have taken six of the last eight renewals and Cromwell’s Stumptown is vying for favouritism following his impressive cross-country success at the Cheltenham Festival, while stablemate Vanillier was an eyecatching third in that race and seeks to go one better than his 2023 National second.

Cromwell said: “Stumptown seems very well, it’s a quick enough turnaround but he seems very fresh and well.

“He’s been very good this season, the drying ground is a small bit of a concern. It’s going to be a fast pace, we just need him to keep his position and then hopefully he’ll stay well.

Cheltenham Festival 2025 – Style Wednesday – Cheltenham Racecourse
Stumptown winning the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (Adam Davy/PA).

“He’s going to love the fences. He loves the cross-country fences so I think it will really bring out the best in him.

“Vanillier ran very well at Cheltenham, again he’s one that may struggle to keep his position as I imagine he’s going to be flat out. He will stay well, so I just hope he doesn’t get too far back.

“Perceval Legallois is coming into it a bit fresher than the other two, he’s never gone further than three miles, but I don’t think it’s going to be a problem.

“He should travel round fine as he has a little bit more pace, he hasn’t been round Aintree but he has seen the fences at home and jumped them fine, so hopefully he will take to it.”

Tom Gibney’s Intense Raffles bids to follow up last year’s Irish Grand National triumph with an even more famous victory for owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.

Their racing manager Anthony Bromley said: “Tom has been very happy with his preparation and the horse is relatively unexposed and we hope he is reasonably handicapped.

“We would have liked it to have been proper soft ground rather than watered soft ground, but it is what it is and we couldn’t be happier with the horse at the moment.”

Ladbrokes Christmas Festival – Day One – Kempton Park
Trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon, jockey Gavin Sheehan and Hewick (Steven Paston/PA).

Aintree glory would add another amazing chapter to the Hewick fairytale, with the €850 bargain buy having already earned over £750,000 in prize-money.

Trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon said: “There has only been one plan for this year and that plan has been in place for the last six months. The English National is the race we want and, please God, all we ask is a bit of luck now.”

Fact To File could drop back to two miles at Punchestown

/in /by

Ryanair Chase winner Fact To File could drop back in trip for a tilt at the William Hill Champion Chase at the Punchestown Festival, connections have revealed.

The Willie Mullins-trained gelding was a brilliant winner at Cheltenham, but with no middle-distance option available in County Kildare, he will either contest the Punchestown Gold Cup or be asked to run over two miles in the Champion Chase.

Which race he ultimately lines up for is likely to depend on whether his owner JP McManus elects to run Gold Cup hero Inothewayurthinkin in the Punchestown equivalent.

Should Fact To File run in the Champion Chase, he could meet another McManus-owned Festival winner in his stablemate Dinoblue, who landed the Mares’ Chase in the Cotswolds two weeks ago.

Speaking at Limerick on Sunday, the owner’s racing manager Frank Berry said: “Obviously Inothewayurthinkin isn’t going to Liverpool (Aintree), so it’ll be either Punchestown or pull up. He’ll want safe ground and again, ground depending, Fact To File will also go to Punchestown.

“It’s up in the air but Fact To File has the two-mile and the three-mile options. It depends if the other fella (Inothewayurthinkin) runs but Fact To File could well go back to two miles.

“Dinoblue will probably again tog out in the Champion Chase, so there is every chance, if the ground is OK, that the three will run in Punchestown.”

Before Punchestown, there is the Randox Grand National meeting, and although Inothewayurthinkin is no longer in contention, the McManus colours will again be carried by last year’s winner I Am Maximus in the big one.

The Mullins-trained gelding has yet to fire this season, but Berry was able to issue an upbeat report.

“The reports are good and Willie is happy with him. I’d be surprised if Paul (Townend) doesn’t ride him, but I don’t know,” he said.

Inothewayurthinkin ruled out of Grand National bid

/in /by

Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Inothewayurthinkin will not bid for an historic double in the Randox Grand National at Aintree next month, his trainer Gavin Cromwell has announced.

The JP McManus-owned seven-year-old repaid the faith of his connections after being supplemented for the blue riband with a fantastic victory under Mark Walsh at Prestbury Park on Friday, powering clear of dual Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs on the run-in.

Inothewayurthinkin was already Grand National favourite and in the immediate aftermath of his Gold Cup success was cut to a best-priced 3-1 to become only the second horse to win National Hunt racing’s two most prestigious prizes after Golden Miller, who completed the double in 1934.

However, after taking a few days to mull over the decision, Cromwell confirmed on Tuesday morning that his charge will not line up in the world’s most famous steeplechase on April 5.

He told the PA news agency: “He’s only a seven-year-old and we’ve worked hard on his jumping this season and his jumping has improved an awful lot.

“We think it’s the right thing to do. It’s all about doing the right thing for the horse.”

With Aintree now off the table, Inothewayurthinkin could round off his season in the Punchestown Gold Cup, but that is also far from certain.

“Punchestown is an option, but it’s certainly not for definite,” Cromwell added.

“He’s come out of the race well.”

Intense Raffles is the new favourite for the Randox Grand National
Intense Raffles is the new favourite for the Randox Grand National (Niall Carson/PA)

Inothewayurthinkin was one of several horses taken out of the Grand National at the latest scratchings stage, with Gold Cup third Gentlemansgame, the fourth home Monty’s Star and the fifth placed The Real Whacker also among those who will not be lining up.

With a total of 67 horses still in contention, both Paddy Power and Coral make Tom Gibney’s Intense Raffles their new 6-1 favourite. Despite Inothewayurthinkin’s defection, McManus still has two leading contenders in Iroko and last year’s winner I Am Maximus, who are 8-1 joint second-favourites with the latter firm.

“The scratching of Inothewayurthinkin has completely changed the make-up of the Grand National betting. Irish Grand National winner Intense Raffles is the new favourite, but it is now a more open betting event,” said Coral’s John Hill.

“Inothewayurthinkin would have gone off a very short-priced favourite, possibly as short as 2-1, but it’s now hard to predict what will start as favourite, with Iroko and I Am Maximus also in the frame to top the betting on the day.

“Although JP McManus will not have Inothewayurthinkin wearing his silks, he still has a very strong hand in the race, with Iroko and I Am Maximus at the top end of the betting.”

Cromwell admits National bid is ‘tempting’ with Inothewayurthinkin

/in /by

Galopin Des Champs may have come short in his bid for Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup immortality, but his Prestbury Park conqueror Inothewayurthinkin put himself in line for perhaps an even greater slice of history at Aintree next month, with a Randox Grand National tilt still very much in the melting pot.

Most of the sell-out crowd that flocked to the Cotswolds expected to see the Willie Mullins-trained Galopin Des Champs become only the fifth horse to win steeplechasing’s blue riband for a third time – and the first since Best Mate just over two decades ago.

The reigning champion’s performance may have lacked zest, but he still managed to fight his way to the front before the home turn. However, looming in his wing mirrors all the while was a horse who trainer Gavin Cromwell had such faith in that connections decided to supplement him for the race last weekend.

Recent form figures of seven, five and four may not look inspiring at first glance, but his staying-on fourth behind Galopin Des Champs in last month’s Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown, followed by a seemingly sparkling workout at Cromwell’s County Meath yard, meant confidence in the camp was high.

“At the end of the season last year we thought he had a chance of being a Gold Cup horse,” said the trainer.

“We started off the season in the John Durkan over two and a half miles and things just happened too quick for him, but he actually ran well to a point and just got tired.

“We went to Leopardstown at Christmas and he improved from that and we went to the Dublin Racing Festival and he was only beaten seven lengths, staying on well.

“Like last season, it takes a long time to get him fit and he’s obviously a spring horse. We felt he’d progressed a lot since the Irish Gold Cup, he takes his racing well and he did a fantastic bit of work just over a week ago, so after that it was all systems go to supplement him.”

Mark Walsh aboard Inothewayurthinkin after winning the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup
Mark Walsh aboard Inothewayurthinkin after winning the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (Mike Egerton/PA)

While respectful of Galopin Des Champs’ prowess, Cromwell insists he felt his charge was lining up with a winning chance.

He added: “The cards probably didn’t fall when I didn’t enter him in the race as I just thought it was going to come too soon in his career and we’d be better waiting until next year, but he ran such a big race at the Dublin Racing Festival, he’d come forward since that and we decided to have a go.

“I suppose there is pressure when you supplement, but I think on this occasion I had such confidence in the horse that it wasn’t such a worry or a concern.

“Galopin Des Champs was a dual Gold Cup winner, but we were coming here to try to win the race – we weren’t coming to pick up the pieces and place money. I genuinely thought he had a good chance and thankfully I was right.

“To have a runner in the Gold Cup is fantastic and to win it is unbelievable. I was a farrier for 20-plus years and I suppose for the latter few years of it I was a full-time farrier and a part-time trainer, and as we got busier it reversed roles and eventually I had to give up the farrier job.

“It’s well publicised I was Gordon Elliott’s farrier and the closest I was getting to a Gold Cup was shoeing Don Cossack!”

Owner JP McManus, securing his second Gold Cup following Synchronised’s 2012 triumph, had nothing but praise for the winning trainer.

“He wasn’t entered in the Gold Cup, but Gavin said at home he was going quite well, asked me what I wanted to do and I said enter (supplement) him,” he said.

“All these trainers know more about the horse than I do and I’ve every confidence in Gavin. What can I say about him? He’s a very special man, you don’t hear from him too often but he gets the job done.

“I’d want to watch the race again and I’m looking forward to watching it. Coming down the hill I thought he was going to put it up to the champion and sure enough he did.”

Inothewayurthinkin was already Grand National favourite and is now a best-priced 3-1 to become only the second horse to win National Hunt racing’s two most prestigious prizes after Golden Miller, who completed the double in 1934.

Unsurprisingly, connections were not keen to commit in the immediate aftermath of his Gold Cup triumph, but Cromwell said: “I think we’ll all catch a breath and get the horse home and the conversation will be had. I suppose you certainly can’t rule it out and it is tempting.”

McCoy thrilled to see McManus win the Gold Cup again

/in /by

Sir Anthony McCoy knows the feeling of returning victorious after the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup and cut a delighted figure as he soaked in another magical moment for his former boss JP McManus at the Cheltenham Festival.

McCoy won the blue riband for McManus and Jonjo O’Neill aboard Synchronised in 2012, and 13 years on he took a moment’s pause from his role as a TV pundit to cheer in a second Gold Cup hero for the Festival’s leading owner, as Inothewayurthinkin denied the history-chasing Galopin Des Champs in a thrilling renewal of the premier staying event.

It will be a victory made all the sweeter by the fact Gavin Cromwell’s seven-year-old – also now the red-hot favourite for the Randox Grand National – was bred by McManus’ wife Noreen and reared to perfection at Martinstown to reach what McCoy describes as “the pinnacle” of jumps racing.

Sir Anthony McCoy celebrates on Synchronised
Sir Anthony McCoy celebrates on Synchronised (David Davies/PA)

McCoy said: “It’s brilliant for JP to win another Gold Cup and to have bred him at home and have him as a foal right up to the Cheltenham Gold Cup, nothing will make him happier.

“This is the pinnacle and you can win Grand Nationals, they are great, but this is the Gold Cup and the best horse wins the Gold Cup and his wife bred him and I would say he will be very happy.”

It was a victory that capped a brilliant Cheltenham Festival for Inothewayurthinkin’s jockey Mark Walsh, and McCoy added: “This is the race everyone wants to win and for Mark to go out and win a Cheltenham Gold Cup is brilliant.

“He’s had a lot of success in those famous colours, but now he’s won the biggest race around.”

Barry Geraghty was in attendance at Cheltenham to watch the Gold Cup
Barry Geraghty was in attendance at Cheltenham to watch the Gold Cup (Mike Egerton/PA)

Barry Geraghty never won a Gold Cup in his time as retained rider for McManus, but is no stranger to success in the green and gold hoops at this meeting and hailed the training performance of Inothewayurthinkin’s handler – and also the decision to supplement the gelding into the contest at a cost of £25,000.

He said: “It’s unbelievable and what a call to supplement him, what a performance, that was mind-blowing.

“Galopin Des Champs ran a brilliant race and there were no hiding places and Inothewayurthinkin just picked up and winged the last, that jump was magic.

“It’s a brilliant result for the McManus family and JP and Mark Walsh especially, and what about Gavin Cromwell too – what a training performance. It will be some fun if he makes it to Aintree.”

Charlie Swan on Istabraq
Charlie Swan on Istabraq (Barry Batchelor/PA)

Charlie Swan is another with plenty of history with the McManus family and was the fortunate man who had the privilege of steering Istabraq around the undulations of the Cotswolds.

He was another in the clamour for a prime spot to welcome back the Gold Cup hero and said: “It’s brilliant for JP and he deserves it – if anyone deserves, it he does.

“This horse is improving and improving and he’s a relentless galloper.

“I don’t know about Aintree, it may come too soon, but I’m sure JP will enjoy today.”

McCoy backing Jonbon to give McManus first taste of Champion Chase glory

/in /by

Sir Anthony McCoy is backing Jonbon to deliver a knockout blow to his BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase rivals and break his Cheltenham Festival duck in the process.

The Nicky Henderson-trained nine-year-old has only been beaten three times in 20 races under rules, but all of those defeats have come at Prestbury Park, including two previous losses at National Hunt racing’s showpiece event.

However, there was no disgrace in being second best behind superstar stablemate Constitution Hill in the 2022 Supreme and El Fabiolo was another formidable opponent at the time of their Arkle clash 12 months later.

Last season’s Clarence House Chase defeat at Cheltenham by Elixir De Nutz was disappointing, but Jonbon does have a couple of course wins on his card and returns there on the back of rock-solid Grade One strikes at Sandown and Ascot.

Highflyer Chase Day – Warwick Racecourse
AP McCoy, Aidan Coleman and Nicky Henderson with Jonbon (David Davies/PA).

William Hill ambassador McCoy – who won an epic renewal of this race when Edredon Bleu short-headed Direct Route in 2000 – said: “I absolutely love Jonbon and I would love to ride him in a Champion Chase.

“I think he’s absolutely tailor-made for the test it presents, because he’s a real strong stayer who jumps well – he’s almost like a better version of Edredon Bleu.

“There’s also a bit of Floyd Mayweather about him – he only just does enough, but he’s a hell of a winner. As far as this year’s race, I just think he wins.”

McCoy enjoyed great success when number one rider for Jonbon’s owner JP McManus and is still associated with the famous green and gold colours.

He added: “Jonbon is obviously one we’re really hoping can get the job done this year. He’s been a special horse for JP, and I think it’d be fitting if he were to be the first horse to win a Champion Chase for JP. That would be a big box ticked, for sure.”

McCoy is confident the McManus team have made the right decision in running Willie Mullins’ Fact To File in the Ryanair Chase, rather than taking on Galopin Des Champ for the fourth time this term in the Gold Cup.

Punchestown Races – Sunday November 24th
Fact To File racing against Galopin Des Champs at Punchestown (Niall Carson/PA).

Fact To File came out on top when they met in the John Durkan at Punchestown in November but has since been put in his place by his stablemate in the Savills Chase and the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

“I’d say that this year, the right race for him is the Ryanair,” said McCoy, speaking at a William Hill preview night.

“I know that a few people have said that they think his form might’ve regressed this season since the John Durkan, but I think he’s been ridden to try to beat Galopin Des Champs and, as we know, that’s an unbelievably tall order, particularly around Leopardstown.

“Looking at the rest of them in the Ryanair, the one that could totally take the race by storm is Il Est Francais. He put up a really bold display at Kempton, but you’d have question marks about how the undulations at Cheltenham would suit him. You’d also worry about him having bled before too.

“Protektorat is fairly solid as the defending champion, but if I had to ride one of them, it’d have to be Fact To File. And that’s not because JP owns him, it’s that he’s got great Festival form, and the drop back in trip should be perfect for him.”

Horse Racing – 2011 Christmas Festival – Lexus Chase Day – Leopardstown Racecourse
AP McCoy with JP McManus during his riding days (Niall Carson/PA).

McManus again has a whole host of fancied runners at Cheltenham and shows no signs of easing off in his pursuit of Festival success, having made mid-season purchases of The New Lion and The Wallpark.

“As regards JP, it really was such a pleasure to ride for him because he just loves horses,” said McCoy. “That’s what it comes down to with him – the love and respect for the animal.

“At every level, you know. He loves coming down and seeing the young three- and four-year-olds, thinking that they might be the next Synchronised, Jonbon or Istabraq.

“You see a lot of owners come into the sport – they have a few nice days in the sun, enjoy the attention that comes with it and love the big days. With JP, it’s so much deeper than that.

“He has a genuine, open-hearted love for the horse, and you just know his horses mean the absolute world to him. He loves the Cheltenham Festival, too – so riding for him there was just the biggest privilege and the best job in the world.”

Joyeuse joins battle for Mares’ Hurdle honours

/in /by

Nicky Henderson’s Joyeuse has been supplemented for the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.

A runaway winner of the newly-named William Hill Hurdle at Newbury last month, the six-year-old initially looked an unlikely runner in the Cotswolds as she was one short of the five runs required to qualify for the Festival handicaps.

Henderson nominated last weekend’s Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso as a potential target, but subsequently had a change of heart and persuaded owner JP McManus to stump up the required £4,800 to add her to Tuesday’s Grade One contest at the confirmation stage.

Frank Berry, racing manager to McManus, said: “That’s the plan, she’s been supplemented and she’ll go there.

“She was very impressive the last day, very good, and Nicky said she’d come out of the race very well.

“She’s been very well in the meantime and so we’re hoping all goes to plan.

“She did it very nicely at Newbury, Nicky is very happy with her so we’re looking forward to seeing her out again.”

Joyeuse is a general best-priced 6-1 for the Mares’ Hurdle, with Lossiemouth odds-on despite also being left in the Champion Hurdle by trainer Willie Mullins.

Even if Lossiemouth does take on the boys, Mullins will still be well represented in his bid for an 11th Mares’ Hurdle success, with the Kenny Alexander-owned trio of Gala Marceau, Jade De Grugy and Kargese all standing their ground.

Golden Ace (Jeremy Scott) and July Flower (Henry de Bromhead) also feature among the 15 remaining contenders.

Seventeen horses are in the mix for the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, including the red-hot Mullins-trained favourite Kopek Des Bordes.

The Closutton maestro has whittled his team in the traditional Festival curtain-raiser down to nine, with Salvator Mundi and Irancy also worthy of consideration. Gordon Elliott’s Romeo Coolio and De Bromhead’s Workahead further strengthen the Irish contingent.

Nine horses go forward for the My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy, with Majborough another warm order for Mullins ahead of his clash with Dan Skelton’s L’Eau Du Sud.

The Changing Man (Joe Tizzard) and Broadway Boy (Nigel Twiston-Davies) are two of 31 confirmations for the Ultima Handicap Chase, while the Hallgarten And Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle – better known as the Fred Winter – has 38 entries, including Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm’s French raider Stencil.

The Princess Royal National Hunt Challenge Cup, which will this year be run as a novice handicap chase for the first time, brings day one of the Festival to a close and leading hopes among 29 possibles include Gavin Cromwell’s Now Is The Hour and the Rebecca Curtis-trained Haiti Couleurs.

Promising Kawaboomga added to list of Cheltenham absentees

/in /by

Leading Cheltenham Festival contender Kawaboomga has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a setback.

The French recruit made a promising debut for Willie Mullins when runner-up to esteemed stablemate Kopek Des Bordes at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting and went one better at Fairyhouse last month, beating a subsequent  winner in William Munny.

The JP McManus-owned five-year-old looked a major player for the Turners’ Novices’ Hurdle at Prestbury Park in little over a fortnight’s time, but will not be making the trip across the Irish Sea.

McManus’ racing manager, Frank Berry, said: “Unfortunately Kawaboomga has had a setback and will miss the rest of the season.

“He’s a grand, big horse and it’s disappointing, but hopefully all being well we’ll have him back for the autumn.”

Despite Kawaboomga’s defection, both Mullins and McManus will have high hopes of landing the two-mile-five-furlong Grade One which opens day two of the Festival.

Mullins is responsible for the ante-post favourite Final Demand, while the green and gold McManus silks are set to be carried by The New Lion for the first time, with the leading owner having snapped up Dan Skelton’s charge since his Challow Hurdle success at Newbury in late December.

Berry added: “Dan seems very happy with The New Lion and we’re looking forward to seeing him run.”

Paddy Power make Final Demand a 6-4 market leader in their non-runner no bet market for the Turners, with The New Lion rated his biggest threat at 5-2.

Guerriero has concerns over timing of Ultima for Iroko

/in /by

Ultima Handicap Chase favourite Iroko is not certain to line up at the Cheltenham Festival as connections plot their way towards a likely tilt at the Grand National.

The JP McManus-owned gelding has had the Aintree spectacular as his primary aim from the start of the season and having fallen on his previous outing at Ascot, he caught the eye when making late gains to finish fourth in a competitive handicap at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Bookmakers make Iroko the clear market leader for the Ultima at the Festival in March, but joint-trainer Josh Guerriero has revealed he could instead run at Kempton next month en route to Aintree.

Of his Festival Trials day performance, he said: “It was perfect really in a lot of ways. He would have learned a hell of a lot, obviously it was a bit of a nightmare at Ascot and to go to the Grand National you want to get some good experience – and he did. He was right in amongst it and jumped well under pressure.

“He was a bit flat out, as obviously the trip was a bit short for him, but we’re just trying to teach him plenty.

“If there was four weeks between Cheltenham and Aintree, we’d love to (run at the Festival). He’s favourite for the Ultima I see now and I think he’d go well in that, but with it only being three weeks between the two, I think we’ll probably run before. We might go to the Ladbrokes Trophy (at Kempton on February 22) or something like that.

“Once he’s moved up to a stamina trip, you’ll see the best of him hopefully. AP (McCoy) said he might not go for the National this year and we’ll just have to see what happens, but wherever he goes, he’ll go well.”

Iroko is a general 16-1 shot for the Randox Grand National on April 5.

Harry Skelton looking forward to next chapter with The New Lion

/in /by

The New Lion’s first run in the silks of his new owner JP McManus is likely to be at the Cheltenham Festival in March, with Dan and Harry Skelton “delighted” he is staying in their Warwickshire yard.

The six-year-old is unbeaten in a bumper and three hurdles starts, most recently landing the Grade One Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury in the manner of a very talented performer.

He was at that stage owned by Darren Yates, who named him as a nod to his former star Blaklion, but is now intending wrap up his racing interests.

McManus acquired the Kayf Tara gelding following his Challow success and intends to keep him with Dan Skelton, who will now turn his attention towards the Cheltenham Festival for the gelding’s next run.

Remaining in the saddle will be the trainer’s brother, Harry, who said in his blog for Star Sports: “We’re delighted that we’re going to keep him in the yard after Darren’s decision to sell him.

“We’re very much looking forward to his future and hopefully he is lucky for JP.

“He did everything that we hoped he would do at Newbury. We could never have dreamed he would do it as impressively as he did, but myself and Dan always believed in him and we always thought he had the makings of a Grade One horse, so it was great to realise that belief in the Challow.

“He’ll head to Cheltenham now and he’ll probably have entries in both the Supreme and the Turners, with stepping up to three miles for the Albert Bartlett less likely. We’ll see what suits him best, but it looks like the two-mile five-furlong race (Turners Novices’ Hurdle) is his most likely destination at this stage.

Rising star The New Lion snapped up by JP McManus

/in /by

Challow Hurdle hero The New Lion has been sold to JP McManus, with previous owner Darren Yates stating his intention to leave racing at the end of the season.

The six-year-old has won each of his four starts for Dan and Harry Skelton, with a debut victory in a Market Rasen bumper in the spring followed by a hat-trick of wins over hurdles.

He was hugely impressive when successfully graduating to Grade One level at Newbury over the festive period, giving Yates and his wife Annaley their first taste of top-level success.

Yates has invested huge sums in buying racehorses, most notably spending £620,000 on Interconnected, who failed to win a race afterwards.

However, in a deal that appears to have been brokered by fellow owner Paul Byrne – who has previously sold several of his own horses to McManus – Yates has decided to let go of his prized asset.

Detailing the reasoning behind the decision on Nick Luck’s Daily Podcast, he said: “At the start of the season, Annaley and I made a decision really that we were thinking of getting out of racing altogether.

“Different things in our lives, grandkids – times change. But when I spoke to Dan (Skelton) about it, he said ‘look, for the first time ever, you’ve got a superb team. You’ve got the likes of The New Lion and Cherie d’Am. You could sell them all now in a dispersal, but you’re not going to get the value’.

“I said ‘OK, I’m prepared to crack on’, and obviously that was a risk as well, as a horse is only a day away from getting injured. I said to Dan ‘let’s try to make a target of trying to win a Grade One’ and he said he thought it was definitely achievable with the ammunition we’ve got.”

The New Lion was a brilliant winner of the Challow Hurdle at Newbury
The New Lion was a brilliant winner of the Challow Hurdle at Newbury (Steven Paston/PA)

Yates revealed the decision to sell The New Lion to McManus has been in the works for some time and that he gambled on him winning a Grade One to maximise his value.

“I’ve been very loyal to Dan and he’s been amazing – him, Harry (Skelton) and the whole team. And if any of my horses went to the sales, you don’t really know where they end up,” Yates continued.

“This developed because Paul Byrne, who is a very good friend of mine from Ireland, he was really badgering me after The New Lion won at Chepstow. He loved the horse and asked if I would like to sell him, I said I’d like to continue and see if we can win a Grade One. He said that was a big risk and I said it was my risk.

“What I do know from being in racing myself is you can’t buy a good horse like this – they just don’t exist. Or if they do exist, they never come up for sale.

“Paul came to me again, as he really believed in the horse, as I did, and I think from what I see, he has an amazing relationship with JP. I think JP is a very private man, there’s a lot of trust there with Paul and I said this would be private between us if we do a deal.

JP McManus has bought The New Lion
JP McManus has bought The New Lion (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

“One of the things I asked Paul to speak to JP about was that Dan would carry on training and that Harry would carry on riding. JP, as a gentleman, said that wouldn’t be a problem moving forward.

“Without Paul Byrne, the deal wouldn’t have happened. I wasn’t really interested in going to the sales and I like the way it’s happened.”

While The New Lion will be carrying the green and gold silks of McManus going forward, Yates revealed he retains a ‘bonus interest’ in the son of Kayf Tara, who is expected to head straight to the Cheltenham Festival in March.

He added: “The deal massively suits JP and massively suits me. I’m not going to go into it obviously, because JP wanted to keep it private, which is great with me, but it does give me an interest in the horse moving forward as well. Let’s call it a bonus interest, depending on what he does in the future.

“I think JP was happy to do that and I was happy to do that. Even if I didn’t have a kicker, I’m not the type of person who’d sell a horse and want it to do badly – I’m desperate for him to win at Cheltenham.”

Yates still owns several other horses with Skelton, including the high-class mare Cherie d’Am, who is bound for the Grade Two Trustatrader Hampton Novices’ Chase at Warwick on Saturday.

However, she too looks set to go on the market at some stage, with Yates citing the treatment of owners as one of the major factors in his decision to leave the sport.

“Because I’ve sold The New Lion, by the end of the season I’ll be out totally,” he said.

“The experience of the day is amazing and winning a Grade One was amazing, but they’re very short-lived when you look at all the other things you have to put up with in racing.

“I think the owners are never looked after properly. I would think once I’m out, I’m out.

“You spend a lifetime looking for a horse like The New Lion, but I just don’t see the value in it – I’m not sure where the sport will end up.”

Mangan feels Kempton just did not suit Spillane’s Tower

/in /by

Jimmy Mangan believes Spillane’s Tower failed to act on the track when beaten into fifth place in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

A dual Grade One-winning novice over fences last season, the six-year-old made a hugely encouraging start to the new campaign when splitting fellow JP McManus-owned gelding Fact To File and his stablemate Galopin Des Champs in the John Durkan at Punchestown.

On the strength of that form, Spillane’s Tower was sent off favourite for Kempton’s festive showpiece, but struggled to keep up with the blistering pace set by French raider and eventual runner-up Il Est Francais and was ultimately well held.

Trainer Jimmy Mangan at Fairyhouse
Trainer Jimmy Mangan at Fairyhouse (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

“He’s come back fine and to be fair, Mark Walsh said he just didn’t act on the course,” said Mangan.

“I see Willie (Mullins) was saying the same thing about his mare (Lossiemouth) as she didn’t perform on the track either (in the Christmas Hurdle). She was in trouble early on Paul Townend said, and that’s not like her.

“We were very pleased with our horse, especially when Mark Walsh said he didn’t act at all round the track.”

A couple of days after Spillane’s Tower’s unsuccessful trip to Britain, Fact To File and Galopin Des Champs renewed rivalry in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown, with the latter emphatically reversing the John Durkan form to ensure he is now a warm order to win a third Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Mangan feels his charge may have finished best of the rest behind the Willie Mullins-trained superstar had he run at Leopardstown and he could now take him on in the Irish Gold Cup in early February.

“I think if we’d gone to Leopardstown, he might have been second to Galopin Des Champs. We’ve seen two stars here in Leopardstown in Galopin Des Champs and the mare yesterday (Brighterdaysahead),” the trainer added.

“I’ll be speaking to Frank (Berry, owner’s racing manager) and see where we go, but he probably will have an entry in the Irish Gold Cup.

“There’s not a whole lot for him other than that, the odd conditions race or something over two and a half miles, so we’ll see.”

Il Est Francais camp to consider dropping down in distance

/in /by

A drop back in trip could be on the cards for Il Est Francais after a bold front-running performance saw the French raider pick up the silver medal in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase.

Trained in partnership by Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm, the six-year-old was a brilliant winner of the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase 12 months ago, but returned to Sunbury with questions to answer after being pulled up on his most recent outing on home soil at Auteuil.

Il Est Francais roared back to form in some style, however, leading his rivals a merry dance for much of Kempton’s Boxing Day showpiece before eventually being reeled in by Joseph O’Brien’s Banbridge under a well-judged ride from Paul Townend.

Il Est Francais was 10 lengths clear of the remainder in second and his Yorkshire-born rider James Reveley was proud of his performance in defeat.

“Honestly, I was just going really easy like last year. I felt like I was in second gear all the way round and when I looked behind me and saw I was 20 lengths clear, I couldn’t believe it.

“He just ran out of a bit of petrol coming to two out and I was meeting the last wrong and I didn’t feel like I had enough gas to ask him for a long one, so I had to let him pop it.

“He was brave and gutsy and we were a good second, but we were beaten by a better horse on the day.

“It was all we could ask really, for him to put in his real performance, and I think a drop back in trip might be on the agenda. He might be a Ryanair type.”

While Reveley feels the Ryanair Chase could be a suitable Cheltenham Festival target, George was left considering an even more significant drop in distance for the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

“We know he loves it here and we’ll watch the replay and discuss with the owner what the plans are, but you’d be excited to come back here next year anyway,” he said.

“He’s obviously disappointed at Auteuil and I don’t think we’ll be running there on heavy ground ever again. If it’s good ground, you might consider it, but obviously he’s very good here and I think we’ve got to discuss it with all the owners.

“He could even run in the Champion Chase, I don’t think he’d be out of place, but I’ve got to watch the replay and discuss it with everyone. It’s exciting problems to have.

“We wore our heart on our sleeve anyway, we didn’t complicate things and it seems to have paid off. Obviously you’d like to win, but he’s run a cracker and it’s great to get him back.”

L'Homme Presse ran with credit in defeat
L’Homme Presse ran with credit in defeat (Adam Davy/PA)

Venetia Williams was similarly thrilled with the performance of the third-placed L’Homme Presse, who had not been seen in competitive action since finishing fourth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March but kept on well for Charlie Deutsch.

“It’s not often that you say thank you for third, but I think in this case, we very much do,” she said.

“He’s finished a very solid third and was the first home of the British horses. He was the only one coming into the race without having had a run this season and it probably wasn’t completely his ground anyway, so you’d have to be absolutely delighted.

“Charlie’s given him a fantastic ride and given him every chance.”

Last season, L’Homme Presse won the Fleur Du Lys Chase at Lingfield in late January, but a switch of venue means he is unlikely to defend his crown.

Williams added: “That trip round Windsor is not for him, it was fine when it was round Lingfield, but we’ll look elsewhere.”

JP McManus was not making any excuses for his two runners in the King George
JP McManus was not making any excuses for his two runners in the King George (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

The clear favourite for the King George come the off was 11-4 chance Spillane’s Tower, with Jimmy Mangan’s stable star having pushed fellow JP McManus-owned rising star Fact To File close in the John Durkan at Punchestown a month ago.

However, the six-year-old never really threatened to land a telling blow and passed the post in fifth place, one position ahead of the other McManus runner Corbetts Cross.

Connections of both horses had voiced concerns about underfoot conditions beforehand, but McManus said afterwards: “I don’t think we’ve any excuses, we were beaten fair and square.

“I don’t think anybody could complain about the ground – it’s lovely ground. We just didn’t have the ammunition, that’s the bottom line.”

Betfair Chase runner-up Grey Dawning was pulled up and Dan Skelton said: “He made a mistake at the first but that was it, the writing was on the wall really.

Randox Grand National 2024 – Opening Day – Aintree Racecourse
Grey Dawning disappointed (Bradley Collyer/PA).

“We weren’t really where we needed to be and with the speed of the race, I wouldn’t say it caught us out, we just were never where we needed to be and never in a rhythm after that first jump because they went so quick.

“Maybe the race did come soon enough (after Haydock) but you can’t say that for certain because it’s not like he’s travelled round and not got up the straight. That’s racing and we have to put a line through it, it’s all we can do.

“The second horse blew the race apart and caught a lot of the three milers out, really. The only horse who could catch him is one who could run over two miles.

“We definitely won’t go for the Fleur De Lys, Protektorat will go there and I would say not about the Cotswold. I really don’t know what we do next. His owner’s on holiday at the moment and when he’s back, I’ll have a chat with him.”

Spillane’s Tower among trio added to King George field

/in /by

Spillane’s Tower has been supplemented for the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

The Jimmy Mangan-trained six-year-old was a Grade One winner at both Fairyhouse and the Punchestown Festival last season. He found only fellow rising JP McManus-owned star Fact To File too good in his return to action in the John Durkan Memorial back at the Kildare track, with dual Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs behind him in third.

McManus has another string to his King George bow in the shape of Corbetts Cross, trained by Emmet Mullins, while Dan Skelton has been upbeat about the chance of Betfair Chase runner-up Grey Dawning.

Also still in contention is Il Est Francais, who was so brilliant in winning the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase on this card 12 months ago. He is trained by Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm, who could also be represented by Coral Gold Cup fourth General En Chef.

Another from France is Juntos Ganamos, who is held in high regard by trainer David Cottin and like Spillane’s Tower has been supplemented at a cost of £4,600.

There is a third supplementary in the form of Patrick Neville’s stable star The Real Whacker, who finished fourth last year and returns off the back of winning the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.

Venetia Williams is double-handed, with Royale Pagaille and L’Homme Presse, while Henry de Bromhead has Envoi Allen and Joseph O’Brien has Banbridge, who was giving Energumene a real race when unseating at the last in the Hilly Way Chase at Cork.

Last year’s winner Hewick could bid to repeat his flying finish of 12 months ago. He is trained by Tara Lee Cogan as Shark Hanlon serves a six-month suspension.

Another former winner in contention again is Bravemansgame for Paul Nicholls. Completing the 14 possibles is Lucinda Russell’s Ahoy Senor.

Late call to be made on Spillane’s Tower supplementary decision

/in /by

Connections will wait until Friday morning before deciding whether to supplement Spillane’s Tower for the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase.

Jimmy Mangan’s stable star is the 4-1 second-favourite with the race sponsors after filling the runner-up spot behind fellow JP McManus-owned chaser Fact To File in the John Durkan at Punchestown.

Also a dual Grade One winner as a novice over fences last season, Spillane’s Tower would clearly be a major contender for the Boxing Day showpiece at Kempton Park, but the McManus team are keen to see some ease in the ground before making a final call on whether to add him to the field at a cost of £4,600.

Corbetts Cross on his way to winning the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham
Corbetts Cross on his way to winning the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham (David Davies/The Jockey Club)

Either way McManus is set to be represented in a race he won for the first and only time to date with French star First Gold 24 years ago, with the Emmet Mullins-trained Corbetts Cross confirmed as an intended runner.

“At the minute Corbetts Cross is on course to go there and we’ll just check the ground in the morning for Spillane’s Tower and see what they’re saying,” the owner’s racing manager Frank Berry said on Thursday.

“If it’s soft he’ll probably be supplemented. You’d want to see the word soft in it, definitely.

“It’s decision time in the morning, so we’ll take it from there.”

The going at Kempton was described as good to soft, good in places on Thursday afternoon following three millimetres of rain overnight. There is a risk of showers every day until Monday, with Christmas Day and Boxing Day looking mild and dry with sunny periods.

Fact To File and jockey Mark Walsh after winning the John Durkan at Punchestown
Fact To File and jockey Mark Walsh after winning the John Durkan at Punchestown (Niall Carson/PA)

McManus has a wealth of talent in the staying chase division this season, with Fact To File the current ante-post favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

With Corbetts Cross and possibly Spillane’s Tower pencilled in for Kempton, the Willie Mullins-trained Fact To File looks set for a mouthwatering rematch with stablemate Galopin Des Champs in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown on Saturday week, having beaten him into third place in the John Durkan.

Berry, who also confirmed the Savills Chase as the likely comeback target of Grand National hero I Am Maximus, admits deciding how to split their horses is a high-class problem.

“Fact To File and I Am Maximus look to be going to Leopardstown,” he added.

“It’s a good problem to have, but with the dry winter it has left things a bit congested for us.”