Saratoga supplies birthday winner for JP McManus

Saratoga provided owner JP McManus with the perfect birthday present when striking in the McCoy Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham.

One of three horses running in the green and gold silks of McManus, who was celebrating his 75th birthday, the Padraig Roche-trained grey was a 10-1 chance under Mark Walsh.

The former Flat performer made light work of the 22-runner contest, strolling home ahead of Winston Junior to emulate his half-brother Brazil’s success in 2022 for the same owner, trainer and jockey combination.

McManus said: “We’ve always had a lot of fun and great days here. It’s a place which means so much to so many and I’m delighted to see this one win for Padraig.

“Every winner is special and I go back a long time with Padraig’s father Christy. We won this race with Brazil a few years ago and they were praying the ground would be fast and every day it was drying out was a bonus.

“I’ve had winners here on my birthday before, but you never get tired of it.”

Roche added: “It’s near enough the same route we took with Brazil and we’ve always thought this race would suit him.

“Getting nice horses is half the battle in this game and I’m delighted Frank (Berry, racing manager) and JP decided to buy him.

“Today really mattered, but I’m sure we’ll find out down the road if he’s a bit better than a handicapper.”

McManus had more to celebrate in the very next race as he scored a one-two via Johnnywho (18-1) and Jagwar in the Trustmarque Ultima Handicap Chase.

Johnnywho, who is trained by Jonjo and AJ O’Neill, just managed to sidestep Search For Glory after he unseated his rider at the last before reeling in the front-running Quebecois on the run to the line.

He then had to dig deep for jockey Richie McLernon with 3-1 favourite Jagwar delivering a last-gasp challenge, holding on by a head.

It was a first Festival winner for AJ O’Neill since joining his father on the licence at Jackdaws Castle, and he said: “That was fantastic, Richie gave him an unbelievable ride.

“He’s threatened to land a big one on a couple of occasions. He obviously went close in the Kim Muir last year and it’s great to come back and go one better.

“When I saw Jagwar coming I was just hoping we could keep our nose in front and luckily we were able to do that.”

The Skelton team got a winner on the board in the Sun Racing Plate Handicap Chase, with Harry Skelton doing the steering aboard Madara for brother Dan.

Madara (3-1 favourite) stayed out of trouble and relished the Cheltenham hill to come home seven and a half lengths to the good.

Dan Skelton said: “We knew he had pounds in hand, but didn’t know he had that much.

“We have to be mindful he’s comeback off injury and he has obviously improved run to run this year. He finished second at Kempton the other day and I thought he had improved again off the back of that, but I just haven’t been able to train him hard because of his legs.

“We’ll feel our way a little and we’re not going to go and push the boat out too hard. He might get 10lb or more for today and we’re going to have to try a graded race.

“We could think about the Melling or Sandown on the last day of the season, but we may just leave a little bit in the locker for another day.”

Holloway Queen then took the concluding National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Handicap Chase under James Bowen, a second win on the day for trainer Nicky Henderson after Old Park Star’s earlier triumph.

At 12-1 the mare stayed on best of all to claim a straightforward five-and-a-half-length triumph over the extended three-mile six-furlong trip to give Bowen his first Cheltenham Festival winner.

“I’ve got to admit, I thought she wanted a bog! When she won at Newbury it was bottomless,” said Henderson.

“We’ve ummed and ahhed, we weren’t going to run unless it was soft all over.

“I suppose you get the same effect over three mile six (furlongs) by making it a real staying test.

“She was on the transfer list earlier in the season, it wasn’t working over hurdles and she was getting sulky.

“James has got a rhythm with her, she just jumps and gallops once she gets out of the gates.”

Bowen said of his first experience of winning at the meeting: “It’s great to get a winner on the first day, I suppose it’s a bit of redemption for last year because I missed the whole Festival.

“I’ve had some good days, I can’t say it’s a career highlight but it’s right up there.”