Jimmy Mangan's racing success not confined to the role of trainer

Perhaps more of a one-hit wonder in the mind of a casual racing viewer, Jimmy Mangan has actually assembled quite the back catalogue over the years.

The avuncular County Cork trainer will forever be associated with Monty’s Pass, with whom he planned a meticulous campaign to net the 2003 Grand National, as well as a fine gamble for his ownership syndicate.

From what has only ever been a small string there have been others to have earned the 64-year-old recognition over time, too, such as Powers Gold Cup winner Conna Castle and Whinstone Boy, who took the 2010 Thyestes Chase.

Broaden the parameters to those who have passed through his hands and the list gets considerably longer.

Mangan, whose father Patrick foaled the peerless Dawn Run and bred the 1956 Champion Hurdle winner Doorknocker, took over at the helm of Conna Stud in the early 1980s.

Not only has he bought and sold another National winner, Bindaree, he bred a growing list of accomplished jumpers including Psycho, Frascati Park, half-brothers Minella Class and Deputy Dan and, more recently, Grade 3 novice winner Minella Awards.

"I’m breeding as much as ever," Mangan says. "I have about 15 broodmares and I’ve had good luck really. Being a small trainer is a tough business in Ireland at the moment, the breeding helps me to sometimes fund the training establishment - which is not the right thing to be doing - but I’m lucky to have it."

Uhtred has made a smart start for Joseph O'BrienCredit: Caroline Norris

Mangan has an eye for a traditional jumping pedigree on the distaff side, which is how he came about his latest creation Uhtred. The Fame And Glory gelding, bred from the unknown Ingred Hans, showed a striking turn of foot to take this month’s Listed Future Champions bumper at Navan for Joseph O’Brien and Gigginstown.

"The dam was an unraced Beneficial mare, she was out of a Phardante mare who was out of a mare who was by The Parson, so she was well-crafted along the line," he explains. "It goes back to a good mare Edward O’Grady had, Pencil Lady. In terms of winners up close it was light enough, but there was a good cross of stallions there.

"She came from someone around the Curragh. She wasn’t the quietest of a mare, she would kick you, and hadn’t the greatest temperament, they were just getting rid of her and luckily I bought her.

"Uhtred was the only one I got out of her. The second year she was heavy in foal, I went up in the field to feed four or five of them who were out together but unfortunately she’d had a problem with her intestines. The vet came out and said that sadly there was nothing he could do for her."

Margins being what they are, Mangan took Uhtred to the Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale as a foal.

"If you had to be critical he was maybe a little bit on the small side but he was very, very correct, great genes in him," he recalls. "I had a reserve of €10,000 and that’s the only bid I got.

"Joseph O'Brien, as well as being a top trainer, he’s a great judge of bloodstock and he was the only fellow who liked him. Others looked him, were cribbing about this and that, but Joseph bought him on one bid."

Uhtred made an ultra-promising start by winning a red-hot George Mernagh Bumper at Fairyhouse, beating future winners Chuvelo and Fantasio D’Alene, before running his potentially exciting stablemate Front View close on his reappearance at Cork.

"I’d say he’ll be a very good horse and Joseph maybe will be thinking of going back to the Flat over a mile and a half," Mangan says. "Unfortunately he’s not qualified for the Cheltenham or Punchestown bumpers on account of having had a run over hurdles already."

It would have been remiss during the course of this interview not to mention the horse we began with. Fortunately Mangan is more than happy to relate news of Monty’s Pass, who will soon be turning 27 and is enjoying a happy and benevolent retirement.

"He’s showing his age but we’re all showing our age a bit!" he says. "He’s good and healthy out in the field every day.

"We went to the parade at Aintree for several years, the last year he didn’t travel over so well so I said it might be advisable not to go there any more, but he did a little function up in Cork city last year for Marymount Hospice.

Monty's Pass landed the Aintree spectacle back in 2003Credit: John Grossick

"He had a brilliant day up there, he was launching a charity day down at Cork racecourse, and a lot of the patients came out on to the front lawn to get photographs taken.

"He was across all the papers and thankfully it raised lots of money. He was very handy all along. Before I sent the foals to the sales he’d be out there around them. He was the boss and it was a happy family really."

Neither should we dare suggest Mangan’s future exploits will be confined to the role of breeder, or indeed charitable ambassador.

He has seen enough good ones over the years to trust his judgement and clearly thinks highly of young chaser Castlebrook, who carries the colours of the late Alan and Ann Potts.

Such optimism would have been fanned by the six-year-old finishing a decent third behind Faugheen and Samcro in Limerick's equine celebrity-filled novice chase.

"He’s pretty useful," he says. "Last year we couldn’t get the runs off the ground. He’s actually still growing, the devil, he’s 17’3 at the minute and really won’t be a real horse until next year, I’d say."

Asked if he thought there was a chance he might have a second (or perhaps third) National horse on his hands, Mangan replies: "There’s no doubt…Liverpool always comes up with perfectly safe ground, and it would be a place I’d definitely have in mind for him."