JP McManus is no stranger to Cheltenham Festival success, from his first winner in 1982 when Mister Donovan won the Sun Alliance Novices’ Hurdle to Istabraq, Synchronised and Buveur D’Air to name a few. This year the team in green and gold look to have built up one of their best squads, going into the festival with six favourites and many more with chances.
The obvious starting point for JP’s team set to make their way to Prestbury Park is recent purchase, Corbetts Cross. The youngster was not long in Paul Byrne's colours as he himself had only purchased the horse in early January. He looks to be a horse with immense potential and looks one that will go on to big things.
He showed his versatility on his first start for his new trainer Emmet Mullins at Navan when dropping markedly in trip and won what looked to be a very strong Grade 2 novice hurdle. This run grabbed the attention of JP, who has subsequently purchased him and he looks to have a cracking chance if he lines up in the Albert Bartlett.
JP has two exciting novice chasers heading to the festival in the form of Jonbon and another purchase from this season, Impervious. Jonbon was an expensive recruit from the point to point fields after winning at Dromahane. He would be unbeaten under rules only for bumping into a monster in Constitution Hill in the Supreme last year.
He was under-whelming on his prep run for the festival at Warwick when beating Calico in a match race. Nicky Henderson has since said he was not as fit as he thought he was and he will come on a lot for the run. The Arkle this year looks to be a very good renewal with himself and El Fabiolo heading the market. The two could serve up one of the races of the week and Jonbon goes into the race with a favourite's chance.
The aforementioned Impervious looks to be one of his best chances of the week in my opinion. The Colm Murphy-trained mare would not have been up to this level over hurdles but the switch to fences seems to be the making of her. She comes into the race unbeaten over fences. Jumping has been her biggest asset the last twice and good jumps at the last fence has got her over the line on each occasion.
Last time out was a very good performance to give the geldings weight and a beating. Brian Hayes gets along with her very well and looks to have a very good chance of adding to JP’s list of festival winners.
We have become used to seeing multiple horses in the colours of JP in the big field handicaps and this year will be no different. Filey Bay looks to be towards the top of his list of handicap runners, another horse bought from Paul Byrne's in training with Emmet Mullins. He was last seen finishing second in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury, himself and the winner pulling along way clear of the third. He looks a horse on the up and goes there a likely favourite for the race.
The Grand Annual looks a race the Limerick native could have a strong hand in with the admirable mare Dinoblue and top weight Andy Dufresne who finished runner up in this race last year.
Dinoblue is very interesting and her mark of 140 does not seem excessive. She has been running against some good mares of late and has run well. This type of race could really be to her liking. A strong pace should give her a chance to settle and if the big field does not intimidate her she will be an exciting runner for JP.
JP has built his best team heading into the festival for some time and I think he will be adding to his tally of festival winners this year and will likely collect the top owners honours for the Festival.
READ NEXT:
Ireland's Grand Slam novices urged by Johnny Sexton to embrace their golden opportunity
Henry de Bromhead heads to Cheltenham Festival with different outlook following death of son Jack
Dublin can overcome player turnover to make a mark this year, insists Ronan Hayes
Rachael Blackmore hungry for more success as Cheltenham edges closer
Cheltenham Festival Quiz: Test your knowledge of the famous meeting
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts
