Sir Alex Ferguson enjoyed double Cheltenham success on Thursday.
The Scot was in the winners’ enclosure for the first time as Paul Nicholls rode Monmiral in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle.
Ferguson was seen celebrating for a second time when Protektorat won the Ryanair Chase for the Dan Skelton team.
The second win came in the space of 40 minutes – so Thursday was a day to remember for the former Manchester United manager.
Following Monmiral’s win, Ferguson said (via RTE): “That was fantastic. Brilliant. What a jockey, deary me, he was brilliant. It’s my first winner here, John is the master, he chooses the horses and we back him all the way.”
Ferguson wasn’t the only former football manager enjoying a first Festival winner either. Former Tottenham and West Ham boss Harry Redknapp’s Shaken Up’Arry landed the TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase.
Sir Alex Ferguson's horse has finally won a race at Cheltenham
Look how happy he is ❤️
— LADbible (@ladbible) March 14, 2024
Redknapp said: “Oh my god, get in there. How good was that? He jumped for fun, what a performance. I’m so happy, it’s unbelievable.”
“My nan got me into racing, she was a bookie’s runner when she was young and every week she’d get locked up in the police station in the east end of London because betting was illegal in those days. She got me into it and I love every minute, I love the people, I love the racing.
“To have a winner at the Festival, my god, I can’t tell you.”
It’s always great to see a smile on Ferguson’s face, so more winners the better! Keep them coming.
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