JP McManus ensured teenager John Gleeson had his dream come true when he let him keep the ride on one of his best chances at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival and was rewarded with his 70th success at the meeting.
Billionaire McManus bought A Dream To Share after he won at Leopardstown in February for then owner Claire Gleeson, wife of ITV Racing pundit Brian Gleeson, and her 18-year-old amateur rider son.
Rather than insist on a professional taking the mount at Cheltenham, the new owner said Gleeson could keep the mount in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper, which A Dream To Share won at odds of 7-2., delivering a first Festival win for his 85-year-old trainer John Kiely.
