Who are top 5 richest Cheltenham Festival owners? The creme de la creme of jump racing descend upon the iconic Cheltenham racecourse again in March 2024. As well as the punters, some of the richest owners will also be making the trip to the Cheltenham Festival, all with their eyes on the prize this year. Irishracing.com has looked at some of those, ahead of the festival opener on Tuesday 12th March. 1. John P McManus - €2B McManus, a gambler businessman and former shareholder of Manchester United, forked out more than €670,000 for Jonbon, a brother to the brilliant Douvan, who will run in this year’s Queen Mother Champion Chase. With a history of multiple winning entries at the Festival, he is known for making substantial wagers and is expected to do so again. Sire Du Berlais bids to follow up on last year’s shock Stayers' Hurdle victory when he struck at 100-1 and smart novice chaser Fact To File is one of his strongest chances of a Festival winner. Worth around €2bn, McManus famously challenged a fellow business mogul to a game of Backgammon and won €17m in 2012. 2. Michael O’Leary - €1.6B Michael O’Leary, owner of Gigginstown House Stud, and group CEO of Irish airline, Ryanair, has invested heavily in horse racing which has duly paid off. The businessman has won the Cheltenham Gold Cup twice in the past with War Of Attrition and Don Cossack. Among his biggest Festival hopes for this year are Delta Work in the Cross Country, Brighterdaysahead in the Mares’ Novice Hurdle, and Jalon D’oudaries in the Champion Bumper. Another one of the Irishman’s prize possessions, Conflated, who finished third in last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup will make the trip to Gloucestershire, however, it remains undecided on whether he will run in the Ryanair Chase or Friday’s Gold Cup. 3. Tony Bloom - €1.6B Tony Bloom, the majority owner of Brighton & Hove Albion, is another of Cheltenham's wealthiest owners. The 53-year-old made his €1bn empire through sports betting, poker playing, and establishing himself as a wise entrepreneur. And he has elevated himself to the top of the racing game with Energumene’s sensational victories in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham in 2022 and 2023. Bloom’s champion Energumene is off the track with an injury this year and will miss the Festival. However, he has an excellent chance with Ile Atlantique, who is likely to run in the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle, while Bunting, an impressive winner at Limerick over Christmas, takes his chances in the Triumph Hurdle. 4. Joe Donnelly - €160M The two-time Cheltenham winner and owner of ten-year-old horse Shishkin is one of the more intriguing contenders in this year’s blue riband race and is fancied by many to make it three festival wins on Friday. State Man is a multiple Grade 1 winner for the Donnellys and finished second to the mighty Constitution Hill last year in the Champion Hurdle. He faces a tough task as he attempts to reverse the form of his old rival in the same race this year. An emerging star for the Donnellys is Sir Gino, who is a hot favourite for this year’s Triumph Hurdle following an impressive victory in the trial at Prestbury Park in January. Another to note is talented novice hurdler Dancing City who was impressive when winning at the Dublin Racing Festival. 5. Rich Ricci - €117M The 60-year-old former Barclays banker received a €51.5million payout when he left the bank back in 2013. He has become one of the most iconic racehorse owners, which he does as a hobby. Douvan, Annie Power, Faugheen, and Vroum Vroum Mag have been some of the Cheltenham Festival-winning stars for Rich Ricci. This year, Lossiemouth, Gaelic Warrior, Sharjah, and Monkfish all have big shouts in the likes of the Mares’ Hurdle, the Turners’ Novices’ Chase, and the Stayers’ Hurdle. Sources https://www.fresherslive.com/latest/articles/jp-mcmanus-net-worth-in-2023-how-rich-is-he-now-1555152194 orghttps://equityatlas./michael-o-leary-net-worth/ https://www.sportingnews.com/uk/football/news/who-owns-brighton-tony-bloom-net-worth-value-owner-paid/lypjvrho9dzpbvfnjtitpus https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/17284999/cheltenham-festival-shishkin-owner-joe-donnelly/
