From 20 to 2: the most influential figures in British and Irish racing this year

It has been a turbulent year for racing and here we highlight those who have been at the centre of it all. These are 19 of the 20 most influential figures in the sport this year, with No.1 to be revealed on Thursday

20 JP McManus

There's no getting away from the green and gold hoops if you have any interest in jump racing. McManus was top owner in Ireland for the 19th time and in Britain for the 15th. While Gigginstown gave him a run for his money at home, McManus ran away with the British title, his total prize-money haul of £2.6 million being more than the purses won by the next four owners in the table added together. He may not have had a standout champion but his strength in depth was underlined at the Grand National meeting, where Epatante, Jonbon, Fakir D'Oudairies, Gentleman De Mee and Sire Du Berlais all won Grade 1s.

19 Ruby Walsh

From inspirational jockey to most-respected analyst, Ruby Walsh is evidently the type to make a success of whatever he does. And nor does he seem to be soft-pedalling it in his second career, working for ITV, RTE, Racing TV and others and forming a watchable double act with Lydia Hislop on RTV's Road To Cheltenham. A seemingly natural broadcaster, he remains a close confidant and adviser of Willie Mullins.