Monty's Pass

Given the scale of domination by the bigger National Hunt trainers in recent times, you would be forgiven for thinking that the days of 12-horse stables winning Grade 1 races were dead and gone, but Jimmy Mangan never lost hope that a horse like Spillane's Tower could return his yard to the glory days of Monty's Pass and Conna Castle.  It is 21 years since Mangan sent Monty's Pass out from his Conna-based yard in County Cork to win the Grand National. Not long afterwards, Conna Castle came along and...

Former amateur rider-turned-television pundit, Jane Mangan is next up in the Starfield Stud-sponsored Conversations series. From her family's approach to breeding to her time working in Ballydoyle and at Primus, Mangan makes for an engaging subject in this week's Q&A with Brian Sheerin. Brian Sheerin: This year will be remembered for the remarkably strong trade at the sales. Your family's Conna Stud was a beneficiary of the excellent trade when selling a Churchill (Ire) filly for €230,000 at the Orby Sale in September. How did the year go as a...