JP McManus

Istabraq, the legendary three-time Champion Hurdle winner, has died at the age of 32 at JP McManus's Martinstown Stud in County Limerick. Trained by Aidan O'Brien, Istabraq won three Champion Hurdles between 1998 and 2000, and endeared himself to the racing public with 25 victories under his belt. He also won the Royal Sun Alliance Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 1997.  In a brief statement released on Thursday, McManus said, "Sadly, Istabraq passed away at 1.15am this morning at the ripe old age of 32. He was a...

The 2023/2024 Irish National Hunt champions were crowned at Punchestown on Saturday, Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) announced. After a close tussle, Jack Kennedy earned his first Irish Champion Jockey title, just edging out Paul Townend, who was aiming for his seventh year-end award. The full list of champions for the 2023/2024 National Hunt season are as follows: Champion Owner: JP McManus Champion Trainer: Willie Mullins Champion Jockey: Jack Kennedy Champion Conditional: Danny Gilligan Champion Amateur: Patrick Mullins Champion Lady Amateur: Jody Townend HRI chief executive, Suzanne Eade, said, "It has...

Willie Mullins became the first Irish trainer to take the British National Hunt Trainer's crown in 70 years after his El Fabiolo (Fr) (Spanish Moon) ran second to Jonbon (Fr) (Walk In the Park {Ire}) in the G1 bet365 Celebration Chase at Sandown on Saturday. Mullins also saddled winners Minella Cocooner (Ire) (Flemensfirth) and Impaire Et Passe (Fr) (Diamond Boy {Fr}) to win the bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase and the G2 bet365 Select Hurdle, respectively during the bet365 Jumps Finale card. Overall, Mullins trained 28 winners to victories in...

I Am Maximus (Fr) (Authorized {Ire}) produced one of the most impressive Grand National-winning performances in some time to propel Willie Mullins to the head of the British Trainers' Championship. Owned by JP McManus and ridden by Paul Townend, last year's Irish Grand National hero represented winner number two in the Aintree showpiece for Mullins, who sent out Hedgehunter (Ire) (Montelimar) to success in 2005. Returned the 7-1 co-favourite, I Am Maximus stormed clear of Delta Work (Fr) (Network {Ger}) in second with former Gold Cup winner Minella Indo (Ire)...

Gerry McGrath, breeder of Champion Hurdler Jezki (Ire) (Milan {GB}) and high-class performers Jett (Ire) (Flemensfirth), Jered (Ire) (Presenting {GB}), Jetson (Ire) (Oscar {Ire}) and Jenari (Ire) (Milan {GB}) all out of the outstanding broodmare La Noire (Ire) (Phardante {Fr}), has outlined hopes that the legacy can continue with leading Dublin Racing Festival contender Jetara (Ire) (Walk In The Park {Ire}). A granddaughter of La Noire, the mare who was famously gifted to McGrath by his late father in the nineties, Jetara will take on the boys in the G1...

Legendary Irish owner JP McManus has pledged to donate €1m to every GAA county board. McManus, a multi billionaire whose green and gold hoops have been carried by some of the sport's brightest lights, such as Istabraq, has been a long-time backer of his own Limerick GAA.  Viewed by many as one of the greatest hurling teams of all time, Limerick have dominated the past four All-Ireland championships, and have won five of the past six Liam MacCarthy Cups.  On Thursday it emerged that McManus would extend his support to...

They say the Galway Festival has an unrelenting ability to provide a springboard for young jockeys. Ride a winner at the Galway Festival on terrestrial television and it's worth 10 around the country tracks.  Think of the baby-faced Colin Keane storming to Topaz Mile glory aboard Brendan Brackan (Ire) (Big Bad Bob {Ire}) for his boss Ger Lyons back in 2013 as a five-pound claimer.  Just last week, we had local boy Danny Gilligan earning the plaudits for his front-running masterclass aboard Gordon Elliott's Ash Tree Meadow (Fr) (Bonbon Rose...

Trainer Paul Nicholls was awarded his 14th British Champion NH Trainer award, when the end-of-season champions were named at Sandown Park on Saturday. He is sitting on 3,582 British jump winners to date. Nicholls is eyeing the longstanding records of Martin Pipe, who accumulated 15 Champion Jump Trainer championships, and also saddled 4,183 winners under both codes. "It's been a fantastic season with some fantastic horses that have been very consistent all through the campaign and we are obviously thrilled," said Nicholls. "It reflects very well on the whole team...

Six Irish National Hunt champions, including Willie Mullins, will be presented with their end-of-season awards at Punchestown on Saturday. Charlie McConalogue, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, will be on hand at the course to distribute the honours. Trainer Willie Mullins was named the Irish NH Champion Trainer for the 17th time. He saddled his 4,000th career winner in January and sets a new record for the number of winners in a NH season having surpassed his previous best of 212, set in the 2017/2018 season. The trainer of...

Frank Berry has paid tribute to Foreman (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), the Grade 1-winning hurdler and chaser, who passed away at the age of 25 at JP McManus's Martinstown Stud in Limerick this week.  Foreman was described by Berry as a horse whose ability matched his looks and offered up his memorable Irish Champion Hurdle victory at Leopardstown in 2004 as one of the major highlights the McManus team enjoyed with the dashing chestnut.  A 10-time winner, Foreman also landed top-flight success over fences when landing the Maghull Novices' Chase at...

The 2021/2022 Irish National Hunt Champions were announced at Punchestown on Saturday. Of the six, five were repeat winners, with Jack Foley named the Champion Conditional Jockey for the first time. Ireland's NH champions are as follows: Champion Owner: JP McManus (19th win) Champion Trainer: Willie Mullins (16th win) Champion Jockey: Paul Townend (fifth win) Champion Conditional: Jack Foley Champion Amateur: Patrick Mullins (14th win) Champion Lady Amateur Rider: Jody Townend (second win) Horse Racing Ireland Chief Executive, Suzanne Eade, said, "This is the first time since May 2019 that...

The 2021/22 UK Jumps Champions were crowned during the bet365 Jump Finale at Sandown Park on Saturday. Brian Hughes, who became only the fourth NH jockey to ride a double century of winners in a season, was named the UK Champion Jumps Jockey for a second time. His win total sits at 204, 99 ahead of Sam Twiston-Davies in second. Hughes, who won the title in 2019/20 said, "It is something at the start of the season I set out to try and do and it is great that it...