See all the main 2026 JP McManus Cheltenham Festival runners as the billionaire owner looks set for another hugely successful week at Prestbury Park.
The famous green and gold hoops of McManus are undoubtedly the most recognisable silks of all time and they will be seen in almost EVERY race at Cheltenham next week, which will be shown live on ITV Racing.
McManus is by far the most successful owner in the history of the Cheltenham Festival with a staggering 84 winners to his name. His first winner came all the way back in 1982 when Mister Donovan won the Sun Alliance Hurdle (now known as Turners Novices’ Hurdle).
2025 saw six McManus horses win and he was just one winner away from levelling his previous best of seven winners in 2020. Once again he will be long odds-on to be the Festival’s top owner, a feat he has achieved five times in the last seven years.
Leading JP McManus Cheltenham Festival Runners
At the time of writing, JP has 62 separate entries for the Cheltenham with some horses entered in multiple races. Check out his key contenders below.
Tuesday 10th March
Mighty Park – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
It’s rare for McManus not to have a horse for the Festival opener but in the last week there seems to be confidence that MIGHTY PARK may run in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. This horse heads to Cheltenham after just one run under rules where he demolished a 16-runner field at Fairyhouse, winning by 38 lengths. Mighty Park also holds an entry in the Turners, but he could just take his chance in the Supreme.
Saratoga – Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
Padraig Roche’s SARATOGA has not been beaten far in his three runs over hurdles so far and despite not winning yet, the former Ballydoyle inmate is one of the Cheltenham Festival favourites that there has been plenty of noise about. Trainer Roche won the Boodles with JP’s Brazil in 2022 and the duo may link up again for another big win. McManus was successful in the 2024 renewal as well.
Jagwar/Iroko – Ultima Handicap Chase
Both JAGWAR and IROKO are entered in multiple Cheltenham races but the market suggests they both might be running in the Ultima. Jagwar won on the card last year when winning the Plate and this is a stepping stone to the Grand National at Aintree in April. As for Iroko, he’s a Festival winner too after leading home a JP McManus 1-2 in the 2023 Martin Pipe. The Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero duo will be popular with punters on the day, should they both line up
The New Lion – Champion Hurdle
Last year’s Turners winner THE NEW LION will take his chance in the Champion Hurdle this year as he looks to be come a back-to-back Cheltenham winner. Trained by Dan Skelton, this has been the plan all season and he arrives in good form after winning the Unibet Hurdle at the track last time out. With six wins from seven runs under rules, the only time this horse has lost was when he fell in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle back in November last year. Got to be one of the JP McManus Cheltenham Festival runners with a strong possibility of winning.
WATCH: The New Lion Gets Up On Line In Turners
The Big Three raced all the way!
But it’s The New Lion who reigns supreme in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle 🟡🟢#ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/TF6Fs2A88M
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 12, 2025
Wednesday 11th March
Kaid d’Authie – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
Many might not have expected KAID D’AUTHIE to be a player in the Brown Advisory this year, but after his excellent win at the Dublin Racing Festival, he’s entitled to be. Although Final Demand ran poorly in Dublin, Kaid d’Authie still jumped well and won the race, so there’s no reason why he can’t beat his stablemate again here.
Majborough – Champion Chase
After an obliteration at the DRF, MAJBOROUGH might just be starting to put his jumping together and is a strong favourite for this year’s Champion Chase. His jumping let him down and lost him last season’s Arkle but he put in his best performance yet when last seen. This year’s Champion Chase is a fairly weak field and Majborough’s class could see him through, but only if he jumps well again.
WATCH: Majborough Destroys Field In Dublin Chase
IN A ROMP 💪
Majborough is in a league of his own as he runs away with the @Ladbrokes Dublin Chase.
He’s going to take some stopping in the Champion Chase if he jumps like that.#DRF | @LeopardstownRC 🟩🟨⬜️ pic.twitter.com/hCGMnWkCD5
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 1, 2026
Thursday 12th March
Oldschool Outlaw – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
JP McManus purchased OLDSCHOOL OUTLAW after she won her first start over hurdles and she should prove to be the main threat to current favourite Bambino Fever, who she beat in that Naas maiden last December. After her sale to JP, she bolted up in a Grade 3 contest at Fairyhouse and has to rate as one of Gordon Elliott’s best chances of the week, considering Willie Mullins hasn’t won the race since 2020.
Honesty Policy – Stayers’ Hurdle
Thursday could be a day for JP and Elliott as HONESTY POLICY is second favourite for the Stayers’ Hurdle. He’s been touted as a Stayers’ horse all season but it’s a tough race to win and his stablemate Teahupoo is the current market leader. Amongst other rivals is 2024 King George hero Hewick and Cheltenham specialist Bob Olinger, but Honesty Policy is certainly not without chance.
Fact To File – Ryanair Chase
Coming back to defend his Ryanair crown, FACT TO FILE is hot favourite to do so, despite him potentially getting supplemented for the Gold Cup. Recent market moves suggest that the classy nine-year-old will drop back down in trip after winning the Irish Gold Cup at the DRF last time out though. JP has other options in the big race on Friday, so returning to try and win the Ryanair for a second year in a row looks the best option – and he should oblige. Fact To File is probably the most likely winner out of all of the JP McManus Cheltenham Festival runners and he’s currently priced up at 4/5.
WATCH: Fact To File Bolts Up In 2025 Ryanair
Friday 13th March
Proactif – Triumph Hurdle
McManus had Narciso Has in the Triumph Hurdle before he was ruled out of the race, but PROACTIF was also entered and is the new favourite after the scratching of his stablemate. He beat the well fancied Macho Man on his debut for Willie Mullins back in January and this French recruit looks the ideal type for the Triumph. Mullins and McManus teamed up to win this race in 2024 with Majborough, and Proactif has a similar profile.
Dinoblue – Mares’ Chase
DINOBLUE always runs well at the Cheltenham Festival and returns to the venue in attempt to defend her Mares’ Chase crown. She was second in the race in 2024 but bolted up by eight-and-a-half lengths last year. The race looks slightly harder this time around and she could get found out by younger rivals, but she has every right to be the favourite given she acts well at the Gloucestershire venue.
Inothewayurthinkin – Gold Cup
Last year’s Gold Cup winner is back for more and all eyes will be on INOTHEWAYURTHINKIN who has been well supported in antepost markets over the last few days. Despite running desperately all season and falling in his last race, connections seem to think this horse may come alive again up the Cheltenham hill. Gavin Cromwell told Sporting Life recently that his horse is working well and that he’s going to take plenty of beating. Make of that what you will, but the illustrious Cheltenham prize money on offer could see rapid improvement in the horse.
WATCH: Inothewayurthinkin Wins Gold Cup
