The green and gold silks: assessing JP McManus's key Cheltenham Festival chances

JP McManus is the most successful owner in the history of the Cheltenham Festival and his green and gold silks will no doubt be seen again in the track’s winner’s enclosure. Here we take a look at seven of his best chances at the big meeting this month . . .

Jonbon

Sporting Life Arkle (2.10, Tuesday, March 14)

Odds: 13-8

Last year’s Supreme second beat El Fabiolo in a Grade 1 novice hurdle at Aintree and they are the two main protagonists in the Arkle.

Jonbon is 3-3 over fences and was most impressive when winning the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown in December.

He was a little underwhelming when justifying prohibitive odds in the two-runner Kingmaker at Warwick last time and improvement is expected – and needed – on that effort.

Star rating ****

Jonbon14:10 Cheltenham

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Jky: Tnr: Nicky Henderson

Epatante

Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (4.10, Tuesday, March 14)

Odds: 4-1

The 2020 Champion Hurdle winner landed three Grade 1s last season and finished second to stablemate Constitution Hill on her first two starts this campaign.

She was back to winning ways in a Grade 2 at Doncaster last time and is a key player in what looks a high-quality edition, for which she needs supplementing at the six-day stage.

Star rating *****

Epatante: won the Champion Hurdle in 2020Credit: John Grossick

Tekao

Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (4.50, Tuesday, March 14)

Odds: 4-1

Has the potential to prove a class apart in handicap company on the back of an encouraging third behind Gala Marceau and Lossiemouth at Leopardstown.

The Willie Mullins-trained hurdler has been allotted plenty of weight (11st 5lb) but that is no concern, with three of the last four winners carrying 11st 8lb or higher, including McManus’s Brazil last year.

Star rating ****

Tekao16:50 Cheltenham

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Jky: Tnr: W P Mullins

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Camprond

Coral Cup (2.50, Wednesday, March 15)

Odds: 9-1

Fourth in this race on unfavourable soft ground last year and returns off a 2lb lower mark following an aborted chase campaign and three quick runs over hurdles with ease underfoot.

The Philip Hobbs-trained seven-year-old should relish a sounder surface and is a handicapper to keep onside. His rating was high enough to make the cut in nine of the last ten years.

Star rating ****

Camprond14:50 Cheltenham

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Jky: Tnr: Philip Hobbs

A Dream To Share

Weatherbys Champion Bumper (5.30, Wednesday, March 15)

Odds: 5-1

A recent purchase for the high-profile owner following a third successive win in a Grade 2 bumper at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Stays with trainer John Kiely and priced at 5-1 second favourite for the Champion Bumper. He recorded the highest bumper Racing Post Rating in Britain and Ireland this season when winning at Leopardstown.

Star rating ****

A Dream To Share17:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Tnr: John E Kiely

Filey Bay

McCoy Contractors County Hurdle (2.10, Friday, March 17)

Odds: 5-1

Alderwood and Saint Roi are McManus’s most recent winners of the County Hurdle and Filey Bay heads the betting at 5-1 for the ultra-competitive event on the final day.

The lightly raced seven-year-old was unable to maintain his unbeaten record for Emmet Mullins in the Betfair Hurdle but was beaten only a length in second behind Aucunrisque and should have no trouble making the cut for the County Hurdle, requiring four horses to come out.

Star rating ***

Filey Bay14:10 Cheltenham

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Jky: Tnr: Emmet Mullins

Impervious

Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase (4.50, Friday, March 17)

Odds: 2-1

Elimay struck in this race last year for McManus and Impervious has every chance of following in her footsteps in the festival’s newest addition.

Impervious, trained by Colm Murphy, is 3-3 since going chasing this season, and despite carrying a 3lb penalty for her Grade 2 win at Cork, she is open to plenty more improvement.

Star rating *****

Impervious16:50 Cheltenham

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Jky: Tnr: C A Murphy

Best of the rest

Perceval Legallois and Thanksforthehelp are two of the top three in the betting for the Pertemps Final, while last month’s Dublin Chase winner Gentleman De Mee is a single-figure price for the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase and Janidil is among the main dangers to Shishkin in the Ryanair Chase. There is another handicap favourite for McManus and Emmet Mullins, with the progressive So Scottish heading the betting for the Magners Plate and Dinoblue, Andy Dufresne and Saint Roi are three of the top five in the market for the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual.

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