McManus triumphs at Cheltenham

MASTER punter and multi-millionaire JP McManus is believed to have relieved one bookie of €700,000 yesterday as Irish eyes were smiling at Cheltenham.

The flamboyant former bookmaker is believed to have had a €200,000 bet at 7/2 on Hardy Eustace, who won a thrilling second Smurfit Champion Hurdle at a heaving Prestbury Park.

After being stunned into silence, and for many near penury, after the defeats of hot favourites Justified in the first and War of Attrition in the second, the Irish roar reverberated around the hallowed turf as out team recorded a famous first five past the post in the hurdling blue riband.

Marquee roofs rose, Guinness banners tugged at their moorings and the viewing stand sagged under the weight of expectation McManus wasn't the only Irishman with money on Hardy Eustace.

Hardy retained his Smurfit crown in tremendous style, holding off fellow Irish challengers Harchibald and Brave Inca; in their slipstream were Accordion Etoile and Macs Joy, owned by a syndicate from Monaghan.

In the winner's enclosure, Hardy Eustace trainer Dessie Hughes, who won the Champion Hurdle as a jockey on Monksfield, insisted he was far more emotional than he looked.

"I thought I was beaten after the last [hurdle], but the horse dug deep and showed he's a true champion. We'll be back next year for a crack at a third [victory]."

Jockey Conor O'Dwyer, 38, who has ridden three festival winners, was jubilant.

"Hardy Eustace is so full of guts we winged the first and he jumped brilliantly and we never touched a hurdle all the way around."

They may not have touched a hurdle, but they touched Irish minds and hearts, and plenty of bookies' pockets.

One bookmaker declared he'd had to pay out €700,000 to a punter who'd bet €200,000 at 7/2. He wouldn't reveal the name of the punter, but all eyes were on McManus.

After this there was no stopping the Irish, and McManus pounced again in the fifth race with his Spotthedifference proving he can do just that when it comes to picking a winner.

Another famous family tradition was upheld in the last, when Nina Carberry, sister of Paul and daughter of Tommy, who won the Gold Cup on board L'Escargot, steered Paul Nolan's Dabiroun to victory.