FEATURE JP McMANUS
Above and above right: Istabraq on the way to Champion Hurdle glory in 1998 and 2000 Right: Rachael Blackmore on Minella Times at Aintree in 2021
“AP kind of believed and I think that victory was one of his greatest-ever rides because Synchronised wasn’t very big and like Istabraq he was by Sadler’s Wells. “I sent Mayasta [Synchronised’s dam] to be covered and John Magnier decided he’d cover her with Sadler’s Wells. John used to cover a couple of my jumping mares with him and I think it was more for a bit of fun, so it was nice to see Sadler’s Wells have a Champion Hurdle and a Gold Cup winner!” Success in the most famous Jump race in the world, the Randox Grand National, is another prize McManus coveted and ultimately achieved. After some near misses, Don’t Push It landed the Aintree spectacular in 2010, handing 20-times champion jockey AP McCoy a first National success at his 15th attempt in the process. McManus continues: “Aintree has been lucky. We’ve knocked on the door and been lucky enough to win it twice and be second five times. We’ve had some of our best days there and also some that weren’t quite as good, but it’s a marvellous race to win as it’s just so special. When AP won his National and Jonjo [O’Neill] won his National, it just made it a very special day at the time.” Minella Times became the owner’s second Randox Grand National winner in 2021 and provided another racing milestone with his winning rider Rachael Blackmore becoming the first female jockey to claim victory in the race. McManus adds: “How good was that? Rachael did the business and she was absolutely brilliant. A great
ride is when you can’t see anything being done wrong. It all kind of fell into place on the day and that seems to come naturally to Rachael.” For all his success and everything McManus has achieved in the sport, he remains someone with his feet very firmly on the ground, a trait perhaps best summed up by his attitude to winning. He explains: “You have to celebrate every one like it will be your last, as one day you’ll be right.” With 69 Festival winners to his name there is very little left for him to add to his bulging CV, but the 71-year-old does have one more target in mind: “I’m trying to pass my own age!”
42 KALENDAR
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