SIR ALEX FERGUSON, the legendary Manchester United manager, will again be present at the Cheltenham Festival this year. And Fergie is being tipped to land a whopping £250,000 windfall at Prestbury Park! What horses is Sir Alex Ferguson running at Cheltenham? The Manchester United great is one of the co-owners of superstar chaser Protektorat, his sole charge […]
SIR ALEX FERGUSON, the legendary Manchester United manager, will again be present at the Cheltenham Festival this year.
And Fergie is being tipped to land a whopping £250,000 windfall at Prestbury Park!
The Manchester United great is one of the co-owners of superstar chaser Protektorat, his sole charge this year.
Trained by Dan Skelton, the seven-year-old was a devastating 25-length winner of the Grade 2 Unibet Many Clouds Chase at Aintree last December.
Former Gold Cup winner Native River had to make do with second as Fergie‘s horse won without breaking a sweat.
And now that romp over the three-mile trip is being viewed as perfect preparation for a tilt at the Gold Cup by one of the horse’s other owners, John Hales.
The Gold Cup is one of the richest races in Britain, with last year’s winner Minella Indo scooping just over £260,000.
Similar prize money will be on offer this year and Hales thinks he and Fergie, plus other owners Ged Mason and John’s daughter Lisa, have a good chance of winning it.
Punters agree, with the horse already being backed from around 14-1 into 10-1.
Friday, March 18: Gold Cup – Protektorat (10-1)
Seven races will take place each day, with the marquee race of the day off at 3.30pm.
Tuesday, March 15 – Champion Day
Wednesday, March 16 – Ladies Day
Thursday, March 17 – St Patrick’s Thursday
Friday, March 18 – Gold Cup Day