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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Robert Hynes

JP McManus lands first winner since emotional Grand National victory with Minella Times

Calthor has given JP McManus his first winner since the owner saw his colours carried to Grand National victory by Minella Times.

The six-year-old won the Killeen Sportsgrounds (C & G) Maiden Hurdle at Ballinrobe on Friday under jockey Mark Walsh for trainer Gavin Cromwell.

He was well supported in the betting and won the 4.55 contest by eight and a half lengths after being sent off the 5/4 favourite.

The victory was Calthor's first win under rules, but he did have some good form in the book.

It was an emotional win at Aintree for McManus, following the death of his daughter-in-law Emma late last year.

The 40-year-old, who was married to JP's son John, died suddenly on December 30 after falling ill in Barbados.

Speaking after the race, jockey Rachael Blackmore paid tribute to the owner by saying: “It’s great to win it in these colours. It’s always a privilege to ride for JP McManus, and to win it for him is unbelievable. They’ve had a tough year, so hopefully this can make things a little easier."

AP McCoy was working for ITV at Aintree and got emotional after the race, in which McManus also owned the third placed horse Any Second Now.

JP McManus (©INPHO/Oisin Keniry)

He said: "For JP and Noreen, this is everything. For Kieran, Sue Ann and for John - I think today he'll be thinking that someone very special is looking down on him."

McManus scratched all of his horses from races in Ireland and the UK for a period of time following Emma's death.

The mother-of-three's funeral took place in Barbados on January 12.

Speaking at her memorial service, her husband John said: “No words can describe the pain and sense of loss that I feel since my beautiful Ems passed away. She was the very centre of our family and the person who the kids and I turned to for everything."

Casting his gaze towards the couple’s beloved three children, Mr McManus said: “Mummy loved you to infinity and beyond. You were the first and last thing she thought about everyday, she was so proud of you all, and loved the hugs and laughters that we regularly shared.

“Although we cannot see her anymore, she will live on in our hearts. At any time we can look up at the sun, the moon, or the twinkling stars, and know that mummy is there, looking down on us. Lastly, girls, you sometimes tell me, I am the strict one, well, my promise to the three of you today is that, I’ll be more like mum from now on."

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