Which horse owned by John P. McManus’ has earned the highest Racing Post Rating in Britain?

John P. McManus, almost invariably known as ‘J.P.’ is, far and away, the largest owner in British National Hunt racing. The 2021/22 British Jump Owners’ Championship runs from May 1, 2021 to April 23, 2022 but, in late October, 2021, McManus is already the proverbial ‘country mile’ clear of his nearest rival. His current winning tally amounts to 37 winners from 197 runners, at a strike rate of 19% – marginally better than the 17% he achieved in 2020/21, as a whole – and over £353,000 in prize money.

In 2020/21, McManus increased his record total of Cheltenham Festival winners to 67, courtesy of Chantry House, trained by Nicky Henderson, in the Marsh Novices’ Chase. Of course, he also won his second Grand National, courtesy of Minella Times, trained by Henry de Bromhead and ridden by Rachael Blackmore.

Despite numerous high-profile victories on British soil, the McManus-owned horse that has achieved the highest Racing Post Rating (RPR) since April, 2017, is Anibale Fly. Trained by Tony Martin in Summerhill, Co. Meath, Anibale Fly has yet to win outside his native land, but earned an RPR of 174 when finishing second, beaten 2½ lengths, behind Al Boum Photo in the 2019 Cheltenham Gold Cup. In the same period, McManus’ highest-rated hurdler was Buveur D’Air, who earned an RPR of 171 when winning the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle in 2018.