sport news Now Sir Alex Ferguson and Harry Redknapp are bossing the Cheltenham Festival... ... trends now
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Cheltenham felt more like Wembley on Thursday as two legendary managers — Sir Alex Ferguson and Harry Redknapp — won their first races at the Cheltenham Festival.
With Sam Allardyce and Bryan Robson looking on, too, Ferguson did the double — winning the Pertemps Hurdle with 25-1 shot Monmiral, ridden by Harry Cobden, and the Ryanair Chase with 17-2 chance Protektorat, guided home by Harry Skelton.
As the British hit back — they outscored the Irish five wins to two yesterday — Redknapp’s name was chanted from the terraces around the winner’s enclosure after 8-1 shot Shakem Up’Arry carried his colours to victory in the TrustATrader Plate Chase.
Ferguson did the Double twice with Manchester United, in 1994 and 1996, plus a Treble in 1999, but the man who won it all in football looked almost overwhelmed by his racing wins.
Ferguson, who shares ownership of both horses with friends Ged Mason and John and Lisa Hales, said after Monmiral’s shock victory: ‘I’ve waited a long time for this but that was fantastic. What a jockey, deary me, he was brilliant.
Sir Alex Ferguson was jubilant after winning back-to-back races on third day of the Festival
Harry Cobden (left) led Monmiral to victory in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle with odds of 25/1
Harry Skelton then jockeyed Protektorat and won the Ryanair Chase from 17/2
‘It has been probably 20 years I’ve wanted to have a winner here as when I first started (in racing) I just had Flat horses and no National Hunt ones.
‘It 100 per cent makes it more enjoyable having a winner with friends. Everyone looks forward to Cheltenham, while on the Flat you have the Derby. These two events are unsurpassed.’ Ferguson and his racing
