JP McManus adds to Cheltenham team with Oldschool Outlaw

January 20, 2026

JP McManus has added to his Cheltenham Festival team by purchasing promising hurdler Oldschool Outlaw.

McManus’ racing manager confirmed to The Irish Field on Monday that the six-year-old will now be racing in the famous green and gold hoops.

Since moving to Gordon Elliott from Garry Caldwell in the autumn, Oldschool Outlaw is unbeaten with a bumper and maiden hurdle win in stride.

The daughter of Walk In The Park is the second-favourite at 10/1 for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

She remains the only horse to have beaten Willie Mullins’ Bambino Fever so far, whom she turned over at 1/4 at Naas before Christmas.

The form of that race has been franked in abundance with Bambino Fever going on to win in a canter at Fairyhouse earlier this month and the third, Radiator Springs, won at Clonmel too.

At a press morning earlier this week Elliott confirmed Oldschool Outlaw will target the Grade 3 Solerina Mares Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Saturday, January 24.

Won by the likes of Jade De Grugy and Honeysuckle in years gone by, it’s a decent pointer to Cheltenham and the Meath handler is excited about her future.

“We’ll see how this weekend goes, but we think she could be one for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle. Bambino Fever obviously would have improved from her first run of the season against us, but we think Oldschool Outlaw is a good mare.”

A first career defeat for Bambino Fever!

The top bumper horse from last season has to give best to Oldschool Outlaw on her return and hurdles debut in yet more success for the flying-along @gelliott_racing pic.twitter.com/pMbdanAtI4

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 15, 2025

McManus continues strong relationship with Francis Mangan

McManus has enjoyed a strong rapport with Francis Mangan in recent years, who bought Oldschool Outlaw from the Dundara Syndicate before the start of the season.

The champion owner purchased The Wallpark from Mangan after his Pertemps qualifier victory at Cheltenham’s October meeting in 2024, going on to place in the Stayers’ Hurdle behind Bob Olinger and Teahupoo.

Another deal was struck for Honesty Policy following a promising maiden hurdle win at Leopardstown last March and on his first run for McManus he won the Grade 1 Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree’s Grand National Festival.

Honesty Policy then finished a narrow runner-up in a Grade 1 at Punchestown to Albert Bartlett hero Jasmin De Vaux and is now a key player in the Stayers’ Hurdle, second-favourite at 5/1.

Oldschool Outlaw outran odds of 50/1 in the Grade 2 bumper at Aintree to come home seventh of 20, a strong race that has produced winners left, right and centre.

She may struggle to confirm the form with Bambino Fever at Cheltenham, her rival just 9/4 for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.