Superstar JP McManus horse who’s favourite for £175,000 race blocked from running as row breaks out over handicap mark

A SUPERSTAR Cheltenham Festival-winning horse has been blocked from a £175,000 race – amid a row over his handicap mark.

A Dream To Share won the Champion Bumper in 2023 and looked like being the sport’s next big name for legendary owner JP McManus.

GettyA Dream To Share is favourite for the Cesarewitch handicap at Newmarket – but is currently blocked from running[/caption]

GettyBillionaire owner McManus is appealing the refusal to give his Cheltenham Festival winner a rating so he can run in the £175,000 race[/caption]

But he failed to win a race in his next season over hurdles and only recently returned to the winner’s enclosure with a 1m7f victory on the Flat at Leopardstown in June.

Iconic owner McManus entered the horse, who is trained in Ireland by John Kiely, for the Cesarewitch handicap at Newmarket on October 11.

He was made 7-1 favourite for the 2m2f marathon on the Flat with BetVictor while other firms made him joint-favourite.

But, as things stand, the seven-year-old gelding with almost £200,000 in winnings is not allowed to run because the Irish handicapper has twice refused to give him a mark, according to the Nick Luck Daily podcast.

McManus has apparently appealed the decision with the Irish and British boards.

And it would appear he has a strong case given the horse has officially run under Flat rules three times.

But the BHA have declined the appeal on the grounds of reciprocity with the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board.

The most recent appeal to be turned away came last week.

It is believed those acting for McManus claimed enough time had passed between A Dream To Share’s most recent run on June 19 and now for a mark to be awarded.

Especially as it could be argued that several of the horses he beat, including runner-up Royal Hollow, had subsequently raced enough for the handicapper to be able to judge A Dream To Share accurately.

Interestingly, respected journalist Dave Yates said on the podcast that a mark of 104 had been ‘offered’ to A Dream To Share.

But still, nothing official has been granted meaning, as it stands, the favourite for the big race cannot run.

A Dream To Share won the hearts of punters at Cheltenham a little over two years ago when schoolboy John Gleeson rode him to victory.

McManus bought the horse just a month before from Claire Gleeson, wife of ITV Racing pundit Brian, dad of John.

John said after the win: “Mr McManus was very generous. He said I would definitely keep the ride here today.

“There was no pressure from him. It’s brilliant. I’m very grateful.

“I’ve been going to John Kiely for as long as I can remember.

“I ride out this horse every day before I go to school so it is very special.”