Arkle hopeful Majborough heads strong team of JP McManus Cheltenham Festival runners

The famous green and gold hoops of JP McManus are synonymous with Cheltenham Festival glory and the billionaire tycoon is sending over yet another powerful team to Prestbury Park in 2025.

McManus is the most successful owner in the history of the Cheltenham Festival with an incredible 78 winners to his name since first tasting success with Mister Donovan in the now-Turners Novices’ Hurdle back in 1982.

Since the turn of the century, the Limerick man has failed to record a winner at just one festival (2011) and he’s taken the top owner title in four of the last six renewals. There are only five festival races that McManus has never won.

As per the best horse racing betting sites in the UK, McManus is 1/5 to be crowned top owner in 2025.

Leading JP McManus Cheltenham Festival Runners

Majborough (Arkle Challenge Trophy)

Undoubtedly McManus’ best chance of a winner throughout the week is odds-on Arkle favourite Majborough. Last season’s Triumph Hurdle winner has taken extremely well to fences and bar taking a tumble, it’s very difficult to see him beaten here.

After making his debut for reigning Cheltenham Festival top trainer Willie Mullins at the 2024 Dublin Racing Festival where he finished behind Kargese and Storm Heart in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle, Majborough turned the tables on the biggest stage, reversing the form with both of his better-fancied stablemates to land Grade 1 honours.

He made an imposing chasing debut at Fairyhouse in December, putting Tullyhill and Asian Master to bed with ease before following up in the Irish Arkle last month with a powerful display at Leopardstown.

Following the scratching of Nicky Henderson’s Sir Gino, there is no one that can carry their weight against Majborough in this field and he rates as arguably the strongest Cheltenham Festival banker of the week.

Those against him, however, will look to an 18 year-old Arkle Novices’ Chase trend based on his age.

WATCH: Majborough lands the Grade 1 Irish Arkle at the Dublin Racing Festival

The New Lion (Turners Novices’ Hurdle)

McManus snapped up The New Lion for a reported £1 million after his impressive victory in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury over Christmas, where Dan Skelton‘s six-year-old cantered over the line with his eyes shut and mouth open.

The New Lion made a winning start in a Market Rasen bumper last season before easily landing two events at Chepstow and Newbury in October and November, confirming his promise as one of the leading British hopes at this year’s Cheltenham Festival.

With quicker ground expected to be in play on Wednesday when the Turners kicks off the action, conditions look tailor-made for a horse with his thrilling turn of foot and Skelton hasn’t been afraid to it The New Lion is by far his best chance of a winner.

Anyone looking to take The New Lion on might turn to the Challow Hurdle stat that hasn’t seen a winner of that race follow up at the Festival in the last 21.

WATCH: The New Lion roars in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury

Jonbon (Champion Chase)

It’s now or never for Jonbon in the Champion Chase this year. If he can’t get over the line in front, it’s safe to assume he will retire without a Cheltenham Festival victory to his illustrious resume.

He is in the prime of his career and hasn’t put a foot wrong all season, starting off with a comeback win in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham before impressive performances in the Tingle Creek at Sandown and the Clarence House at Ascot.

While Nicky Henderson‘s nine-year-old may not put his best foot forward at Prestbury Park (he’s 2-from-5), he shouldn’t have any problems putting these rivals to sleep.

He already has the beating of Energumene from Ascot and Solness from Sandown, Marine Nationale has been disappointing over fences and Gaelic Warrior is unlikely to run here.

WATCH: Jonbon lands the Clarence House Chase in terrific style at Ascot

Fact To File (Ryanair Chase or Gold Cup)

In the best interests of Fact To File‘s career, it makes sense to run him in the Ryanair Chase over the intermediate trip of 2½ miles where he looks more comfortable (as long as Galopin Des Champs is still knocking around).

In 2026, the Gold Cup will still be there for him to have a proper crack – it’s easy to forget he’s only an eight-year-old who skipped hurdling entirely and is now in his first season in open company.

Fact To File’s main market rival in the Ryanair might be King George runner-up Il Est Francais but there are plenty of variables to consider with him such as how he’d handle an undulating, left-handed track like Cheltenham compared to the right-handed, flat nature of Kempton Park which plays to his strengths.

His biggest danger could be last year’s winner Protektorat but he is now a ten-year-old and there’s no doubt Fact To File has the more ability of the pair. Spillane’s Tower will skip Cheltenham for Aintree, Banbridge is set to run in the Gold Cup and Djelo could go for a handicap.

If McManus and the team at Closutton decide to drop Fact To File back down in trip, he will surely hold every chance of winning at the festival for a second year running.

WATCH: Fact To File sticks his neck out to win dramatic John Durkan Chase at Punchestown

Dinoblue (Mares’ Chase)

Dinoblue is overdue a win at the Cheltenham Festival but 2025 could finally be the year she gets her head in front.

In the Mares’ Chase last season, the 5lbs she gave fellow McManus contender Limerick Lace ultimately cost her the Grade 2 prize as she went down by half a length on treacherous ground.

Limerick Lace hasn’t looked the same horse this year, beaten 76 lengths in the Betfair Chase at Haydock before a resounding defeat to Allegorie De Vassy at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day.

Dinoblue has the beating of Allegorie De Vassy from their clash at Naas last month as well as in this race last year, while Bioluminescene is unlikely to run here after a disappointing showing last time out at Fairyhouse.

Spindleberry could be the biggest danger to Dinoblue and we are yet to see Gavin Cromwell’s other contender Only By Night over 2½ miles, so you can make arguments against most of her market rivals.

Dinoblue is likely to be around a 5/4 favourite to win the race and rates as one of McManus’ leading hopes at the festival.

WATCH: Dinoblue battles hard to beat Allegorie De Vassy at Naas

Other JP McManus Cheltenham Festival Hopefuls

Spillane’s Tower (Ryanair Chase)

Jimmy Mangan’s Spillane’s Tower finished a valiant runner-up to Fact To File in the John Durkan Chase earlier this season and if connections opt to run at Cheltenham, he will hold strong claims in the Ryanair Chase.

Unsuited by the good ground or the run of the race at Kempton Park when he was sent off as favourite for the King George on Boxing Day, Spillane’s Tower ran into fifth but hasn’t been seen since.

The son of Walk In The Park beat Brown Advisory runner-up Monty’s Star in the Grade 1 Champion Novice Chase at the Punchestown Festival last season and is also a Grade 1 winner over 2½ miles.

There has been some talk of saving him for the Grand National Festival to run in the Aintree Bowl, which is especially likely if Fact To File runs in the Ryanair, but the possibility remains open.

WATCH: Spillane’s Tower wins Grade 1 Champion Novice Chase at Punchestown

Stencil (Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle)

Stencil is the current favourite to win the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle after his runner-up finish to Triumph Hurdle hopeful East India Dock at Cheltenham’s January meeting.

Trained by Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm in , McManus snapped up the four-year-old after his debut win over obstacles at Compiegne last May.

Stencil was awarded a rating of 135 by the handicapper, which looks harsh enough considering what he has achieved to date.

WATCH: Stencil’s runner-up finish to East India Dock at Cheltenham

Kopeck De Mee (Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle, Coral Cup or County Hurdle)

Kopeck De Mee is probably the most-backed horse in NRNB markets for the Cheltenham Festival but according to the betting he’s most likely to appear in the Martin Pipe.

The owner-trainer combination of McManus and Mullins is an obvious driving factor to the market and he could be chucked in off an opening BHA rating of 136 wherever he goes.

The five-year-old hasn’t ran on these shores yet but carries plenty of hype from three consecutive wins over hurdles in last season by a combined 27 lengths.

According to Mullins’ assistant trainer David Casey, Kopeck De Mee arrived at Closutton at the start of the season with the intention of going over fences straightaway but picked up an injury and since it was too late in the season to go chasing they decided to go for a handicap hurdle.

WATCH: Kopeck De Mee wins the Prix Miror Hurdle at Auteuil

🏅 𝗞𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗱𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗲 (A. Pageot /J. Boisnard) enlève le Prix Miror (Listed) à Auteuil.

🥈 Karam le Rouge
🥉 Zephyr de Beaumont pic.twitter.com/wlr1VGLil9

— Equidia (@equidia) May 8, 2024

Aqua Force (Champion Bumper)

Aqua Force burst onto the scene at Gowran Park last month after an impressive 28-length victory in a mares’ bumper which saw McManus move quickly to snap her up and send the six-year-old straight to Mullins’ Closutton stable.

Champion Hurdle hopeful Brighterdaysahead won that same bumper in 2023 and there is every reason to be excited about her chances at the festival.

She is a daughter of Epsom Derby and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Workforce and currently holds odds of around 14/1 for the Champion Bumper.

WATCH: Aqua Force wins easily at Gowran Park to stamp Champion Bumper credentials

A first ever winner for trainer Miguel Gunn! 🥇

Aqua Force makes a significant impression on debut under Niall Moore to win convincingly in the @IrishEBF_ Ronan Lawlor Memorial @GowranPark1 👏 pic.twitter.com/eZFKj4rqTS

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 15, 2025

Karoline Banbou (Mares’ Novices Hurdle)

Karoline Banbou looked impressive in landing a mares’ maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse last month, giving a talented stablemate almost a stone-and-a-half and making amends for a discouraging defeat at Naas before Christmas.

Her bumper form in was up there with the very best and she looks much better value at 8/1 than her stablemate Maughreen who leads the market at 11/4.

WATCH: Karoline Banbou gets off the mark in classy style at Fairyhouse

Karoline Banbou has good bumper form in and gets off the mark in Ireland as she likes on second start for Willie Mullins, JP McManus and Mark Walsh @Fairyhouse pic.twitter.com/roL2S7yViv

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 5, 2025

The Wallpark (Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle or Stayers’ Hurdle)

McManus splashed out on The Wallpark after his eye-catching performance in a Pertemps qualifier at the Cheltenham October meeting and he has two options at the festival of the Pertemps Final or the Stayers’ Hurdle.

The Wallpark failed to win in five starts for former trainer Vincent Ward but after ing Gordon Elliott‘s Cullentra stable, he won his first three starts including a bronze medal in Listed company at Limerick.

He has enjoyed a steady rise through the ratings and after being given a mark of 152 by the handicapper, meaning he would carry 12 stone in a Pertemps, the Stayers’ looks a likelier option at this point.

WATCH: The Wallpark wins the Pertemps Series Qualifier at Cheltenham’s October meeting

The Wallpark is UNLEASHED! 💥

The Wallpark pounces to take the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle 🥇

FOUR races today, FOUR Irish winners! 🇮🇪🍀#ITVRacing | @gelliott_racing | @GainfordJordan pic.twitter.com/sXlokz8Zcw

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) October 26, 2024

Crebilly (Festival Plate Handicap or Ultima Handicap Chase)

Crebilly finished a narrow second to Ben Pauling’s Shakem Up’arry in the Plate last year and it looks like he’ll go back there seeking to go one better in 2025.

A rating of 138 looks more than fair (2lbs lower than last year) and if he can brush up his jumping this time around, he will hold strong claims in the finish.

He’s had a few quiet runs this season under trainer Jonjo O’Neill and this has likely been the target all along.

WATCH: Crebilly’s runner-up finish in the Festival Plate Handicap 2024

Mclaurey (County Hurdle or Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle)

With Kopeck De Mee likely to head for the Martin Pipe, we can expect to see Emmet Mullins’ Mclaurey in the County Hurdle. He was last seen winning a valuable handicap hurdle in Listed company at the Dublin Racing Festival in February.

Handed a rating of 136 by the BHA handicapper, Mclaurey would carry 10st 10lbs in the County and he’s the current ante-post favourite for the race but it looks a competitive heat with potential rivals from the Willie Mullins stable including Absurde, Kargese and Ethical Diamond.

WATCH: Mclaurey lands the Listed Handicap Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival

A handicap snip … ✂️

𝐌𝐜𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐲 (3-1f) looks a mile ahead of the assessor judged by his facile victory in the Listed two-mile handicap @LeopardstownRC 🟩🟨🟩@EmmetMullins1 is having quite some day ✌️#DublinRacingFestival pic.twitter.com/h3ClTDgdwY

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 2, 2025

Its On The Line (Hunters’ Chase)

Its On The Line broke many hearts at the Cheltenham Festival last year with his agonising runner-up finish to Sine Nomine in the Hunters’ Chase and it remains a mystery as to how he didn’t get across the line in front.

The horse is without question a jockey’s nightmare, racing lazily at the best of times and needing plenty of encouragement to stay focused – but when he’s on song as seen at Aintree and Punchestown last season, he can put together a good performance.

Its On The Line has been beaten in both starts so far this season as odds-on favourite and there looks to be more reliable options in the field to back at this year’s festival.

WATCH: Its On The Line’s runner-up finish in the 2024 Hunters’ Chase