How JP McManus built an empire like no other - and then changed course to stay at the top
Andrew Dietz explores the history and scale of the legendary jumps owner's operation
If ever a week encapsulated JP McManus’s standing in the world of jump racing, it is surely this one.
On Sunday, his two superstar chasers, Gold Cup hero Inothewayurthinkin and runaway Ryanair winner Fact To File, topped a spectacular cast for the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown. Just six days on, his exciting young hurdler The New Lion bids to stake his claim as the horse to beat in the Champion Hurdle division when taking on Constitution Hill in the Fighting Fifth. And, as ever when it comes to the midweek action, in between McManus is also likely to be represented on numerous British and Irish racecourses, most probably with further success.
The numbers below reveal the truly staggering scale of McManus’s operation compared to other jumps owners, but also how he came to be in such a position of dominance – as well as revealing the subtle shift that means we might be seeing a little less of the famous green and gold colours than we’ve been accustomed to. That said, as the manner in which he continued to dwarf all other owners last season shows, it’s very much all relative.
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Published on inData Points
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