Magnier keeps it in family

Amid the turmoil enveloping Sir Alex Ferguson and his agent son at Old Trafford it is hardly surprising that accusations of nepotism are being thrown around.

After all, if the list of 99 questions submitted by John Magnier proved anything, it was that there were suspicions about the way some of Manchester United's transfer deals were brokered. And it is only right and proper that Jason Ferguson should clarify what part his Elite Sports Group played in the multi-million-pound transactions.

But when the Fergusons eventually calm down over the points that Magnier has raised, they should study the list of runners for next month's Cheltenham Festival - which United supporters are threatening to disrupt in protest at Magnier's meddling in Old Trafford - because it makes interesting reading. In fact it's here the accusation of nepotism comes in - but directed not at Ferguson but at Magnier himself.

The Irishman's son, John Patrick Magnier, is due to ride the much-fancied Rhinestone Cowboy in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle, the big race on the opening day. In other circumstances it might be seen as a dream ride for the 20-year-old amateur. But, in the heated atmosphere generated by the row over Rock Of Gibraltar, it seems an unusual move, with the youngster branded a potential liability in one of racing's most demanding contests.

'Pure nepotism' is the way that Channel 4's John McCririck sums it up. 'They are entitled to do it, yes, but whether they should do it is another matter.'

But, despite the spotlight which seems certain to intensify over the next few weeks, one regular on the Irish scene insists there is no chance of the youngster being 'jocked off'.

He said: 'For what it's worth, I hear the dispute will be sorted before the Festival but the Magnier family aren't in the habit of backing down.

'Big John has set his heart on having JP ride the horse at Cheltenham and, protests or not, he'll be aboard no matter what.'

Magnier's decision to favour his son over a string of top professional jockeys provides an interesting contrast with the way Ferguson dealt with another of his sons, Darren, who he sold to Wolves in 1993 after deciding that he wasn't good enough to make the grade at Old Trafford. Ferguson Jnr subsequently moved to Wrexham and has carved out a career in the lower leagues.

Magnier clearly has a more starryeyed view of his own offspring's ability and Cheltenham punters have to decide whether to back the boy Magnier against unforgiving rivals like Richard Johnson and AP McCoy.

Rhinestone Cowboy's trainer Jonjo O'Neill remains supportive of his owner's choice of jockey. He said: 'If you had a horse who was good enough for Cheltenham and a tidy young rider for a son, wouldn't you want him to ride it?

'JP might not have a whole load of experience but he rides well and has done nothing wrong on the horse.' Magnier's record aboard Rhinestone Cowboy makes for encouraging reading at first glance.

His first ride on the gelding yielded a memorable defeat of the McCoyridden Liberman in a National Hunt Flat race at Cheltenham, while the second brought an easy success in a Haydock handicap.

Defeat in the December Festival Hurdle was a setback, but a smooth success at Sandown saw him back on track and left his rider beaming at the centre of a posse of his college pals.

'He was a different horse at Sandown compared to Leopardstown and won very easily,' he said.

'There was never a moment when I thought about not coming. There's always pressure before a big race. Pressure makes it interesting.' The pressure of riding a leading Cheltenham fancy weighed all too heavily on Magnier's older brother Tom four years ago.

Pale and gaunt after wasting hard to ride Ned Kelly in the Festival Bumper, he put up six-pound overweight and found the powerful chestnut a real handful before he faded tamely once the race began in earnest.

But Rhinestone Cowboy is much more relaxed than Ned Kelly and another Irish observer feels it would be unwise to assume that having JP Magnier in the saddle will detract from his Cheltenham prospects.

'He won't be able to claim his 5lb allowance but this lad would be in a different class to his brother and, although he's inexperienced on the racecourse, he goes there as a very accomplished three-day eventer,' he said. 'Racing in Ireland has more of a village feel than your situation in England and I doubt you'll find anyone with a bad word to say about JP.

'From what I've seen he socialises within his own age group and has no pretensions or airs and graces.

'He's certainly popular with the ladies and all in all I'd say that he's a really nice guy.'

Four frenetic minutes on 16 March will decide whether the nice guy can deliver on Rhinestone Cowboy. If he doesn't, Magnier Snr may have even more explaining to do.

Like Ferguson, his answer may be that there's nothing wrong with nepotism. It's been going on for years.

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