Sir Alex Ferguson’s horse Protektorat has won the Ryanair Chase, meaning the Manchester United legend has completed back-to-back victories at the Cheltenham Festival.
Trained by Dan Skelton and ridden by Harry Skelton, Protektorat was priced at 9/2 by Paddy Power when he entered the race, with Envoi Allen favorite at 2/1.
Earlier in the day his 25-1 outsider Monmiral won the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle with a dramatic finish down the back straight.
Ferguson jumped for joy as Monmiral won, flanked by Sam Allardyce.
It was reminiscent of when he broke a rib while celebrating a £500,000 horse victory in Bahrain last year.
Sir Alex Ferguson was jubilant after winning back-to-back races on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival
He had celebrated wildly with Ged Mason when Spirit Dancer claimed victory in the Group One Bahrain International Trophy in November.
Ferguson called it the ‘best moment’ of his racing life and although he later revealed he had broken a rib, such setbacks would not stop him from another raucous celebration.
More to follow.
