THE racing gods must have been smiling during the Cheltenham week of 1951 when one John Patrick McManus came into this world.

This was the year when the Gold Cup was won by Silver Fame (6/4 fav), ridden by Martin Molony, only for the Champion Hurdle to be won for the third time in great style by Hatton’s Grace (4/1) and ridden by Martin’s brother Tim, both of whom would go on to be JP’s near neighbours.