JP McMANUS has splashed the cash on a horse he hopes will bring him Cheltenham Festival glory in 2025.
The billionaire Irish owner has bought Cheltenham Pertemps qualifier winner The Wallpark from Francis Mangan.
The six-year-old gelding won the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle qualifier by two and half lengths at Cheltenham in October.
It is not known for how much the Limerick GAA financier spent on the horse, whose Pertemps victory was its fourth in a row.
The Wallpark was previously owned and trained by Vincent Ward, and has won seven races since switching to Gordon Elliott‘s stable.
Speaking after The Wallpark’s victory at Galway in September, Elliott said: “He has his own way of doing it, but has an engine and is a grand honest horse.”
The 73-year-old has already some of the most storied horses – including three-time Cheltenham Champions Hurdle winner Istabraq and Grand National winner Minella Times.
He is also a major financial backer of Limerick GAA, and is credited for helping to fuel their All-Ireland hurling four in-a-row between 2019 and 2023.
He is also a former owner of Manchester United prior to the club’s takeover by the Glazer Family in 2006.
Meanwhile, Adare Manor hosts the annual JP McManus Pro Am. The illustrious golf tournament attracts some of the biggest names both inside and outside of the sport.
Amongst those who are regular attendees are Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, pop star Niall Horan and a copious amount of others.
Irish trainer Enda Bolger, speaking to BoyleSports, who offer the latest Irish horse racing betting, said: “He has the biggest heart in the world.
“There are so many people in the racing world who have benefited from his support.
“But what this man does behind the scenes and in other sports, is unbelievable.
“He is so involved in the GAA and golf and charity goes out to people who really need it.
“He is an astonishing human being. I have never heard another man say anything negative about JP. There is not a better man in the world.
“He is an unbelievable horse lover and he gives his horses time. That is why a lot of them have done so well.
“He would take them out of training and take them back to his farm so they could strengthen up, whereas other people would be anxious and say run them again in a couple of weeks’ time. He’d say, ’No.’
“You have a better horse for that. And 99% of the time he is right.
“That’s what I love about him, He gives his horses so much time. And when they retire they live in five star luxury.
“Any horse that races in the green and gold colors are lucky boys.”
