Legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson jumped and roared in joy as he celebrated his first-ever victory at the Cheltenham Festival when he had a 25-1 winner at the horse racing’s premier jumps meeting. Minutes later, Protektorat won the Ryanair Chase to make it a double triumph and added to the celebrations.
Paul Nicholls-trained Monmiral, who is owned by Ferguson, Ged Mason, and John and Lisa Hales, is a 25-1 winner of the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle and handed the 82-year-old Fergie his first-ever win.
Ferguson jumped in extreme joy after his horse won the race at the Cheltenham Festival. The former Man Utd coach claimed that Monmiral is "definitely" a champion in the making. Fergie told ITV Racing in an interview, “That was fantastic. 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.”
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After Monmiral, Protektorat added to the celebrations by winning the Ryanair Chase. Harry Cobden, the Winning jockey, said, “I can’t believe this horse has won. He was a 25-1 chance but I thought he should be 125-1. Fair play to the trainer, Hannah, that rides him most days. The blinkers have made a massive difference."