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27 Oct 2025
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27 Oct 2025
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Puturhandstogether connections, jockey Mark Walsh, groom Natalie Bilkova, and owner JP McManus after winning the Hallgarten & Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival
LEADING Limerick owner JP McManus visited the winners' enclosure on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival when Puturhandstogether (17-2) timed his challenge to perfection to land the Hallgarten And Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.
It was a 79th win at the Cheltenham Festival for the Festival's most successful owner McManus.
The winner provided trainer Joseph O’Brien with a third success in the race in the last seven years.
While Hot Fuss hit the front on the run for home, Puturhandstogether, in the green and gold McManus silks, was stalking in behind under the guidance of Mark Walsh, who chose him over stablemate Beyond Your Dreams.
That decision proved fruitful as the leading pair jumped over the final flight together before Puturhandstogether moved to the inside rail to power home by six lengths.
Robbies Rock outran his 50-1 odds to finish second for Cromwell, with Liam Swagger third and Hot Fuss back in fourth.
O’Brien said: “I thought Mark gave him a great ride and at halfway it didn’t look as if he was going that easily, but he came onto the bridle and he really enjoyed the spring ground today.
We were hopeful he would be better when he got to the spring festivals.
“It’s always a special week – it’s special to have runners here and to have a winner for JP makes it even better.
“With our others we’ve run in this we’ve gone on to the Galway Hurdle, so that might be a route we take.”
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