JP McManus is probably National Hunt racing’s biggest supporter and he always invests heavily as an owner. Success inevitably comes with that and it’s rare that a Cheltenham Festival goes by without him having a winner or two.
Green and Gold of JP McManus: 5 Biggest Chances for Cheltenham Festival Success 2025
He has a strong team to go to war with at the 2025 Festival and we’re going to look at five of his biggest chances, one of which is a juicy 12/1 shot in the Stayers’ Hurdle.
JP McManus Cheltenham Squad: Majborough
Willie Mullins’ novice chaser is an absolute freak of nature, being such an abnormally powerful horse for a five-year-old, that surely still has some developing to do. Sir Gino’s absence in the Arkle leaves the door wide open for Majborough to take full advantage.
On the evidence of his Irish Arkle victory at the Dublin Racing Festival, he’ll need to sharpen up in the jumping department, but clearly there’s a massive engine there. The 2024 Triumph Hurdle winner is likely to be much better at Cheltenham and he could prove hard to beat.
JP McManus Cheltenham Squad: Jonbon
Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon cost a whopping £570,000 and he has more than earned that money back throughout his career. He has really grown up this year and the nine-year-old appears to be at the very peak of his powers. Easily getting the better of two-time Champion Chase winner Energumene in the Victor Chandler at Ascot last time out, he’s very much the one they all have to beat on that evidence.
JP McManus Cheltenham Squad: Fact To File
This horse was utterly dominant when taking the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Festival in 2024. Fact To File looked like he only joined the race with three fences left to jump and won with plenty in hand on the day. A powerful traveller and accurate jumper, he has all the attributes needed to win this race and if lining up, this gelding has to be one of the bankers of the entire four days. Stablemate Galopin Des Champs isn’t worth taking on in the Gold Cup and this is the race for him.
JP McManus Cheltenham Squad: The Wallpark
There are a couple of options for the Gordon Elliott-trained The Wallpark but the handicap option could prove tough with a mark of 152. With that in mind, this improving sort wouldn’t look out of place in the Stayers’ Hurdle. He comfortably dispatched subsequent Cleeve Hurdle winner Gowel Road in a handicap here in October, whilst giving him 4lb. Not beaten far when fourth in the Long Walk, he would have learnt plenty from that and there could be more to come.
JP McManus Cheltenham Squad: McLaurey
One for trainer Emmet Mullins, this horse remains very lightly raced over hurdles and looks set to be a major contender for the County Hurdle on Day 4. McLaurey has only had five starts over hurdles so far and he won a Limerick maiden in good style over the Christmas period.
His one-length victory on handicap debut at Leopardstown earlier this month was particularly eye-catching. It was a deep and fiercely competitive handicap hurdle so it was a very encouraging display from such an inexperienced horse and the future looks very bright.
By Alex Jack
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