Three of the strongest owners heading into the Cheltenham Festival

With the race for the Prestbury Cup between old rivals Britain and Ireland, as well as the accolades for the Top Jockey and Leading Trainer already adding extra layers of intrigue away from the top-class racing itself, it’s easy to forget about the contest for the Leading Owner title at the Cheltenham Festival.

Without the owners, there would be no Festival each March. So, they are recognised for their contribution to the sport with the Owner of the Day Award — which is given out at the end of each card — and the Leading Owner Award — which is given out to the person with the most overall winners at the end of the meeting on day four.

The battle for that title is heating up very nicely at this stage, with a number of high-profile owners boasting their fair share of horses in the Cheltenham Festival tips 2023. That said, read on as we take a look at three owners with arguably the strongest hands heading to Prestbury Park. 

JP McManus

It wouldn’t be a Cheltenham Festival without a fair share of JP McManus winners scattered throughout the results. The Irish billionaire behind the iconic green-and-gold-hooped silks is the highest-profile and most prolific owner in the sport, reaching the 4,000-winner landmark earlier this season and he is the most successful owner in the Festival’s history with 69 victories — including a record nine Champion Hurdles and a Gold Cup.

McManus has a whole host of solid claims at this year’s meeting, including Jonbon (Arkle Novices’ Chase), Epatante (Mares’ Hurdle), Tekao (4/1), Gentleman De Mee (Queen Mother Champion Chase), Dinoblue (Grand Annual), A Dream To Share (Champion Bumper) and So Scottish (Plate Handicap Chase).

Rich Ricci

Arguably the second most iconic silks behind McManus’ unmistakable colours, it’s hard to miss the pink and green polka-dots of Rich Ricci. The American has enjoyed 19 Festival winners in the last decade or so, with big wins coming in the Champion Hurdle, Ryanair Chase, and the Arkle. 

He suffered something of a transitional period last year, with several of his big names retired but Vauban kept the ball rolling with a Triumph Hurdle success and Ricci is coming back stronger this year after sourcing some new horses to Willie Mullins’ esteemed yard. Of those include Mares’ Chase favourite Allegorie De Vassy, Triumph Hurdle chance Lossiemouth and Gaelic Warrior in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle. 

Simon Munir & Isaac Souede

Another pair of owners who have a lot of runners based with Mullins in Closutton, Simon Munir and Isaac Souede might not boast the same amount of success as Ricci and McManus — with Peace And Co winning the Triumph Hurdle in 2015, Footpad landing the Arkle in 2018 and Concertista tasting success in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle in 2020.

However, they have their strongest contingent of horses heading to Prestbury Park yet this season and they could land their fair share of winners. El Fabiolo will go head-to-head with the aforementioned Jonbon as the joint-favourites for the Arkle, while Impaire Et Passe is the market leader for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle. Fun Fun Fun and It’s For Me are both good shouts for the Champion Bumper, while Blue Lord is the second favourite in Ryanair Chase.