JP McManus splashes the cash to buy Cheltenham Festival favourite The New Lion
News broke on Sunday that McManus spent big money on Cheltenham favourite The New Lion.
JP McManus has splashed the cash on Cheltenham favourite The New Lion in a purchase to shake up the racing world.
In reports emerging this weekend, McManus is said to have paid up to €1m for the unbeaten racehorse just two months before the Cheltenham Festival kicks off.
The six-year-old is favourite for this year's Turner's Novices' Hurdle and is trained by Dan Skelton. The purchase would make him among one of the most expensive jump horses ever sold.
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Speaking after a recent victory in The Challow Novices' Hurdle, Skelton said The New Lion is among the best horses he's ever trained.
"That was incredible. In terms of novice hurdlers, he's probably as good as I've ever had. Everyone else can make comparisons, but I always say I'll defend my horses and I won't inflate them, we'll let the track do that. I'm delighted and he's just got it all.
"I thought he'd win, but I didn't necessarily think he'd go and do something like that. They went a really strong gallop and he's got a good way of going. Some horses are born with that sort of knowledge, it's not an ability, it’s knowledge of how to race and he knew how to do it before we even taught him to."
The sale is no doubt a surprise with previous owner Yates previously adamant he would not sell the prize horse.
"We got offered a lot of money for him, but I told Dan I was sticking with him because he could be a once-in-a-lifetime horse.
"He said The New Lion was as good as he's had before he even ran him in a bumper, but you never really believe it. A few people after his last run here said he didn't look impressive but Harry told me not to worry because he just wins."
The six-year-old only further adds to JP McManus' impressive portfolio, with the Limerick man said to be worth over €2bn.
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