Sir Alex Ferguson‘s horse Protektorat has won the Ryanair Chase, meaning the Manchester United legend has back-to-back wins at Cheltenham Festival.
Protektorat, trained by Dan Skelton and ridden by Harry Skelton, had been priced at 9/2 by Paddy Power going into the race, with Envoi Allen the favourite at 2/1.
Earlier in the day, Ferguson’s 25-1 outsider Monmiral won the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle via a dramatic finish down the final straight.
Ferguson was seen jumping with glee when Monmiral won, flanked by Sam Allardyce.
He removed his flat cap after his initial burst of joy, perhaps in reverence for the moment.
It was reminiscent of when he broke a rib while celebrating a £500,000 horse win in Bahrain last year.
Sir Alex Ferguson was jubilant after winning back-to-back races on the third day of Cheltenham Festival
He had celebrated in exultation with Ged Mason when Spirit Dancer surged to victory in the Group One Bahrain International Trophy in November.
Ferguson called that the ‘best moment’ of his racing life and while he later revealed that he had broken a rib, such setbacks weren’t going to hold him back from boisterous celebration again.
As well as Ferguson, it has been a successful Thursday afternoon for trainer Skelton.
Skelton had won earlier with Grey Dawning, who clinched victory in the Turners Novices’ Chase.
More to follow.
