JP McManus saw his famous colours carried to victory at Ayr and Ffos Las on Thursday as two of his runners provided him with a pre-Christmas double.
On a day where McManus only had three runners across the two cards, Lock's Corner (17/2) won the Coral Bet Bundles Handicap Hurdle at Ayr before Time Flies By (5/1) landed the dragonbet.co.uk The Bookmaker Of Wales Handicap Hurdle at Ffos Las some 40 minutes later.
Jonjo O'Neill Jr steered Lock's Corner to victory for his father Jonjo Sr, while Time Flies By was guided to victory by James Bowen for Nicky Henderson.
READ MORE: JP McManus on his racing empire, gambling and taking every day as it comes
McManus' sole other runner on the day, Punches Cross, attracted some support prior to the final race of the day Ayr, the Coral Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Chase, but never looked to be travelling and was eventually pulled up.
The victories come ahead of an incredibly busy festive period for McManus, with Champ one of his main hopes of a Stephen's Day win when he lines up in the rearranged Long Walk Hurdle at Kempton.
The 10-year-old is vying for favouritism with recent listed winner Miranda ahead of old rival Paisley Park in the betting. Botox Has, Goshen and Not So Sleepy complete the field.
Epatante will once again lock horns with stablemate Constitution Hill in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, but faces a mammoth task after finishing 12 lengths behind that rival in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle.
Saint Roi is among those in McManus' squad for Leopardstown as the 2020 County Hurdle winner tackles fences for a second time, but he looks to have it all to do to reverse the placings with Fil Dor after finishing four lengths behind the Gordon Elliott-trained four-year-old at Navan last month.
Also Leopardstown bound for McManus are juvenile hurdlers Cougar and Comfort Zone, while Chantry House and Sporting John are both set to run in the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase at Wetherby.
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