WITH Aintree in the horizon, J.P. McManus must be dreaming of another success in the race, even though he won it for the third time just 12 months ago with I Am Maximus. What a great meeting it was at Liverpool last years for the Limerick native, and he heads into this year’s edition on the back of a memorable Cheltenham.

It can never be stressed enough that J.P. has been the greatest supporter of National Hunt racing we have ever seen, and perhaps are ever likely to see, and he was in the hallowed winners’ enclosure six times over the four days at this year’s Cheltenham Festival, in spite of having two odds-on shots, Majborough and Jonbon, beaten.