JP McManus on The Race Lab

Pure Steel Joins Mangan's Growing Cheltenham Arsenal

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 21:00:00 +0000

Jimmy Mangan doesn’t train many horses. He doesn’t need to. The Kerry handler runs a yard of just 12 active runners — and yet he keeps finding himself in the winner’s enclosure at the highest level.

Pure Steel’s 12-length demolition of his rivals in Sunday’s Rated Novice Chase at Punchestown was the latest reminder that Mangan’s small operation continues to punch absurdly above its weight.

The Numbers That Matter

Since the start of 2024, Mangan has sent out 12 runners in graded or listed company and won four of them — a 33% strike rate. For context, Willie Mullins, with the largest and most powerful yard in training, manages around 24% in equivalent races at Gowran Park, his local track.

Dinoblue Heads Strong Mares' Chase Entry — But It's McManus Who Really Owns This Race

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 06:00:00 +0000

The entries for the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival have been revealed, with 24 possibles declared — a stronger numerical entry than the previous two renewals combined. Defending champion Dinoblue heads the market at 7/4, with stablemate Spindleberry next at 7/2.

But look past the individual horses and a bigger pattern emerges. JP McManus hasn’t just had success in this race — he’s owned it.

Four From Five

Since the Mares’ Chase was introduced to the Festival card in 2021, McManus has won it four times from five attempts. Elimay (2022), Impervious (2023), Limerick Lace (2024), and Dinoblue (2025) all carried the famous green and gold hoops past the post first. The only year he didn’t win — 2021 — Elimay still finished second behind Colreevy.

Dinoblue and the McManus Monopoly: Why the Mares' Chase Is His Race to Lose

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 21:00:00 +0000

There are monopolies in racing, and then there’s JP McManus in the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase.

Since the race was introduced to the Cheltenham Festival in 2021, McManus has owned four of the five winners. That’s not a trend. That’s ownership of the race in all but name.

Impervious, Elimay, Limerick Lace, and Dinoblue — all carried the famous green and gold hoops past the post first. The only year McManus missed out was the inaugural running, when Colreevy won for the Flynns. Even then, Elimay finished second for him.

Oscars Brother: The Two-Horse Yard Taking Aim at Cheltenham's Brown Advisory

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 06:00:00 +0000

Connor King has 22 career runners in his database. Not 22 this season — 22 total. Five of them have won. That’s a 22.7% strike rate from a man who operates with just two horses in his yard.

On Sunday, his stable star Oscars Brother made it three wins from five chase starts when romping home by six lengths in the Grade 2 Ten Up Novice Chase at Navan, a race that has historically pointed runners towards the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.