JP McManus' ante-post favourites: Hit or miss?

Irish billionaire JP McManus is the most successful owner in Cheltenham Festival history, with an incredible 84 winners to his name.

Year after year, he fields a formidable team across multiple leading yards in Britain and Ireland, and once again his colours are prominent near the top of the ante-post lists.

For anyone keeping a close eye on the Festival markets from a racing betting perspective, McManus runners are rarely ignored, but history shows that a short price in his colours doesn’t always guarantee success.

So, looking ahead to 2026, who looks a sound proposition and who might be worth taking on? Here’s a closer look at four of his most talked-about contenders.

Champion Hurdle – The New Lion

Verdict: Miss

There’s no denying that The New Lion is a high-class horse. His Festival success in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle over two miles and five furlongs last season, followed by his International Hurdle win on Trials Day as Sir Gino pulled up, underlined his ability.

However, the big question remains: is he really a Champion Hurdle horse? He hasn’t yet convinced over a strongly run two miles, and while this year’s Champion Hurdle looks wide open, with rivals such as Brighterdaysahead also carrying question marks, that lingering doubt is hard to ignore. You couldn’t totally rule him out, but he doesn’t quite earn “hit” status for us.

Champion Chase – Majborough

Verdict: Miss

Another tough call, but it’s a miss again. Majborough was visually sensational in the Dublin Chase at Leopardstown, thrashing reigning Champion Chase hero Marine Nationale by a staggering 19 lengths. On his day, he looks devastating.

The issue is reliability. His jumping, while superb on that occasion, has not always been so assured, and Cheltenham’s quicker spring ground could place him under greater pressure. Given the risks involved, his current position at the head of the Cheltenham races odds looks short enough, especially for a horse with the potential for a costly error when it matters most.

Ryanair Chase – Fact To File

Verdict: Hit

Fact To File’s profile took a significant upturn at the Dublin Racing Festival. After a disappointing run that saw him finish sixth of eight in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day, he bounced back emphatically with a commanding Irish Gold Cup victory. Beating stablemate Gaelic Warrior by five lengths was a serious statement.

If connections opt to drop him back in trip for a Ryanair Chase defence, he looks a rock-solid contender and a clear hit. The dilemma, of course, is whether that Leopardstown performance tempts them towards a Gold Cup tilt instead. McManus has shown before, notably with Inothewayurthinkin last year, that late supplementation can pay off. Whatever route they choose, Fact To File looks one of his strongest Festival hopes.

Triumph Hurdle – Narciso Has

Verdict: Hit

Narciso Has is another major plus in the McManus–Mullins partnership. His Grade 1 Juvenile Hurdle win at the Dublin Racing Festival, by four and a half lengths from Selma De Vary, marked his second successive Leopardstown success and confirmed him as a leading Triumph contender.

With Mullins having won the Triumph Hurdle for the last four years, including with McManus-owned Majborough in 2024, this exciting youngster looks well placed to continue that remarkable run. On current evidence, he fully deserves “hit” status. Be sure to check out our free bracket-maker with March Madness coming up!