McManus buy a huge boost to Curtis image

The news that one of Britain's leading hopes for the Champion Bumper at next month's Cheltenham Festival 2010 has been bough by JP McManus has shone a spotlight on the burgeoning career of Newport-based trainer Rebecca Curtis, writes Elliot Slater.

Curtis took out a license a couple of years ago and has made steady progress, particularly this season, with her record in bumpers proving comparable to the very best of the top yards. From 13 runners in bumpers this term, Curtis has sent out seven winners at an astounding strike rate of 54%!

Of those seven bumpers winners Ffos Las scorer Made In Time is the horse that has started tongues wagging. Rumours that champion jockey Tony McCoy had been particularly impressed with the five-year-old son of American stallion Zagreb had been doing the rounds since his facile debut win in mid-January, and it is understood that on no lesser recommendation than McCoy's own word, McManus approached connections and purchased the gelding with a view to keeping him at Curtis' yard and heading on to the Champion Bumper.

That deal has now been confirmed and the purchase will almost immediately be tested as Curtis will send her charge to Newbury on Saturday for what could prove to be a potentially hot race. Following news of the change of ownership the odds on Made In Time winning at Cheltenham 2010 have been cut again to around 16/1 making him currently the leading hope for the home team in the face of the tremendously powerful Irish challenge.

Made In Time is bred to be useful at the winter game, being a half-brother to the smart hurdler/chaser Made In Taipan, fourth in last year's Arkle Chase and beaten just half a length this season by the classy Big Zeb in Navan's Grade 2 Ladbrokes.com Fortria Chase.