Kevin Manning has plenty more work to do to claim a first Jockeys’ Championship but the veteran rider continues to lead his younger rivals this season and scored his 34th winner of the term when steering the Jim Bolger trained New Terms to win the Family Day At Fairyhouse July 23rd Maiden at Fairyhouse today.

Fifty year old Manning, who partnered his first winner on Keynes at the Curragh way back in April 1983, was a close second in two Championships in the 1990s, losing by four winners twice, respectively, to Michael Kinane (1994) and Johnny Murtagh (1996) but this year leads Colin Keane 34-32, with nine times Champion Pat Smullen currently on 26 winners.

Today Manning was again at his strongest and forced the daughter of New Approach to the front inside the final furlong before the pair scored a three and a half lengths win over Perfect Soldier

Bolger wasn’t present but Manning, who has now spent 35 years and around 70% of his life as a jockey, later commented “her debut run at the Curragh was a very good run and the winner franked the form since but then disappointed at Listowel. That can happen there but she has come good tonight.”

Quotes from Alan Magee