J. P. McManus | Horse Racing Free Tips

McManus, Manning Honoured With Horse Racing Ireland Awards

Leading owner J.P. McManus and the recently retired jockey Kevin Manning were among those honoured Monday at the annual Horse Racing Ireland Awards.

McManus, who is a 19-time champion National Hunt owner in Ireland, received the Contribution to the Industry Award. He has been associated with many of the top jumps horses for over 40 years with more 4,000 winners, including Mister Donavan (Choral Society {GB}), Jack Of Trumps (Kings Theatre {Ire}) and Deep Gale (Deep Run {GB}). He is a six-time Champion Hurdle-winning owner, two-time Grand National winner with Don't Push It (Old Vic [GB}) and Minella Times (Oscar {Ire}), and the Cheltenham Gold Cup went his way with Synchronised (Sadler's Wells).

Manning, who concluded his 40 years in the saddle this fall, was bestowed the Irish Racing Hero Award. He was champion apprentice in 1984 and 1987 and he won 36 Group 1 winners over his remarkable career, including the Epsom Derby aboard New Approach (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in 2008, the Irish Derby on Trading Leather (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) Hong Kong Cup on Alexander Goldrun (Ire) (Gold Away [Ire}) in 2004.

The Kenny Alexander-owned Honeysuckle (GB) (Sulamani {Ire}) was crowned Horse of the Year for the second consecutive year after extending her winning streak to 16 races. She remained unbeaten for a fourth season and added Hatton's Grace Hurdle for a third time, the Irish Champion Hurdle and the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival for a second time, and the Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.

Jockey Sam Ewing received the Emerging Talent Award, the National Hunt Award went to Henry de Bromhead, the National Hunt Achievement Award was won by John 'Shark' Hanlon, Liz Lalor earned the Point-To-Point honor, the Flat Award went to Billy Lee, the Flat Achievement Award was given to Dylan Browne McMonagle and Wayne Lordan was honored with the Ride of the Year for his effort aboard Waterville in the Friends of The Curragh Irish Cesarewitch.

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Galileo’s Martinstown A New Rising Star

After Aidan O'Brien had taken Chester by storm to an even greater extent than usual, the Rosegreen purple patch continued apace at Cork on Friday evening when the closing race saw a TDN Rising Star performance by the newcomer Martinstown (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Named after J P McManus's famous Co. Limerick establishment, the May-foaled bay carries the colours of his daughter Sue Ann Foley who owns him in partnership with Susan Magnier and Michael Tabor and with his title there was an air of expectation surrounding his debut under Wayne Lordan. Slowly away and a touch free early in the 10-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden despite being found cover against the rail, the 5-1 shot followed the front trio into the straight and needed to be switched out to deliver his challenge approaching the two-furlong pole. Gradually reeling in his experienced peers, the son of the Listed Salsabil S. winner Alive Alive Oh (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) gave a final surge to overwhelm Point Gellibrand (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) close home and prevail by half a length, with Flying Dolphin (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) the same margin back in third.

Aidan O'Brien is in no rush with the full-brother to last year's impressive G2 Park Hill S. scorer Free Wind (GB), despite the fact that he is engaged in the Derby at present. “He is lovely,” he said. “We are delighted with him, he is a lovely big horse and is still a baby. It took him halfway down the straight to get going and Wayne gave him a lovely ride and we think he will stay further. He was big, so we didn't like to force him but has a lovely cruise to him. We were trying to give him as much time as we can and J.P. and Sue-Ann said to take our time with him. We might look for a winners' race, a conditions race, or maybe a handicap.”

Martinstown is the third foal out of Alive Alive Oh, who was also third in the G3 Dance Design Fillies S. Her second is the aforementioned Free Wind, who was also a late-starter who went places fast last term, capturing the G3 Prix Minerve before her seven-length Park Hill romp. Fittingly, the second dam Higher Love (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) reached her career crescendo with a second-place finish in the Listed Cheshire Oaks which started Ballydoyle's flawless Chester May meeting on Wednesday and also produced the G3 Fukushima Kinen and G3 Tanabata Sho winner Crescendo Love (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}). Also related to the stable's 1000 Guineas heroine Virginia Waters (Kingmambo) and sire Chevalier (Ire) (Danehill), her yearling is a full-brother to the winner and Free Wind.

7th-Cork, €15,000, Mdn, 5-6, 3yo/up, c/g, 10f 40yT, 2:13.25, gd.
MARTINSTOWN (IRE), c, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Alive Alive Oh (GB) (SW & GSP-Ire), by Duke of Marmalade (Ire)
2nd Dam: Higher Love (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Dollar Bird (Ire), by Kris (GB)
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $9,485. O-Sue-Ann Foley & Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Mrs Sue Ann Foley (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.

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UK National Hunt Champions Crowned At Sandown

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 has come. I've never thought it was signed and sealed and I never wanted to let any sort of complacency set in. I just wanted to keep my head down and keep doing what I have done all season, so I haven't ever accepted that it was happening until it did.”

The Champion Conditional Jockey was Kevin Brogan. Trainer Paul Nicholls and owner JP McManus were once again awarded year-end titles by earnings-their 13th and 15th, respectively.

“It's been tougher [to win the big races] this year but every year is tough. In recent years I've either been neck and neck with Willie [Mullins] or Nicky, but this year it's a bit more relaxed and I can enjoy the day,” said Nicholls.

“I knew we were going to be quiet at Cheltenham but we had a good Aintree with some nice winners there and the horses are flying again now.

“I might have turned 60 recently, but there are absolutely no thoughts from me about retiring. I love what I'm doing and as long as I'm fit and healthy, I've no plans to cut back–I love it.”

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