SIR Alex Ferguson could win more trophies in three days than Manchester United have in five years thanks to his superstar horses.
And the Old Trafford legend would be celebrating a payout to the tune of £640,000 should his big Cheltenham Festival runners all come in.
That's a very healthy return – and much better than United have managed despite their colossal spending over the past few seasons.
Last weekend's League Cup win was United's first trophy since the Europa League in 2017.
Racing fanatic Ferguson, 81, will tackle racing's most iconic meeting with three top tier equine talents.
Protektorat, Hitman and Hermes Allen will look to give the football icon a week to remember at Prestbury Park.
Already this season Fergie has hit the back of the net with big Gold Cup hope Protektorat.
Third in the race last year, he was a runaway winner of the Grade 1 Betfair Chase at Haydock last November, a race worth £114,000 to the winner.
Most read in Horse Racing
Winning form over course and distance set up this 13-2 shot for glory
My NAP is in simply flying form and the stars look aligned at Southwell
Gordon Elliott without his two best jockeys 15 days before Cheltenham Festival
Racing in mourning as iconic owner and big Aston Villa fan Jim Lewis dies at 88
OFFERS OF THE DAY
William Hill: Bet £10 Get £40 in free bets – CLAIM HERE
Betfair: Bet £10 Get £30 – CLAIM HERE
Paddy Power: Bet £20 and get it back as Cash if it Loses – CLAIM HERE
Sky Bet: Bet £10 on Racing and get £30 in free bets –CLAIM HERE
Coral: Bet £5 Get £20 – CLAIM HERE
William Hill: 18+. Play Safe. When you sign-up via Mobile using promo code P40 and place a bet of £10/€10 or more we will give you 4x £10/€10 free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 30 days after the qualifying bet is placed, payment method/player/country restrictions apply. Virtual markets excluded. #ad begambleaware.org
Betfair – Place a min £10 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £30 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly 18+ begambleaware.org
Paddy Power: New customers only. Place your FIRST bet on any market at odds of min 2.0 (EVS) and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £20. Only deposits made using cards will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply. 18+ Begambleaware.org
Sky Bet: New customers only. First single & e/w bet only odds of 1/1 or greater. 3 x £10 bet tokens. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets only redeemable on horse racing. Free bets are non withdrawable. No free bet expiry. Eligibility restrictions and further t&cs apply.
Coral: Eligible UK+IRE players. Paypal & some deposit & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4x £5 free bets. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. No cash-out, restrictions & T&Cs apply. 18+ T&Cs Apply. Begambleaware.org
Disappointing when seen again at Cheltenham on Trials Day last month, trainer Dan Skelton said the horse wasn't fully wound up but will be ready for the Festival feature.
Protektorat, who is co-owned by millionaire businessman Ged Mason, fluffy toy magnate John Hales and his daughter Lisa, is a 14-1 shot for £351,688 show-stopper.
Hitman is another Fergie runner who could hit the target.
He is entered for the Ryanair – the race which Shishkin is 10-11 fav for – but could be massively underestimated at 22-1.
Trainer Paul Nicholls reckons the intermediate 2m4f trip is right up his street and he has always looked a reliable jumper capable of putting in a huge performance.
But bookies reckon Fergie's best chance of all will be Hermes Allen in the Ballymore.
The 5-2 ante-post favourite is unbeaten in three races over hurdles and has won by a combined 41 lengths, pocketing £66,730 in the process.
Labelled 'awesome' by Nicholls after his Challow Hurdle win at Newbury on New Year's Eve, four of the five horses who finished that day have gone onto win.
Of course it's a big ask for Fergie's horses to do the business taking on a whole host of other fancied horses from Britain and Ireland.
Indeed, if you were to back the treble right now you'd be banking on odds of more than 1200-1.
But if anywhere is renowned for big winners it is Cheltenham.
Read More on The Sun
Major supermarket makes huge change to meal deal – but shoppers will be divided
B&M launches massive 75% off everything in closing down sale
Also, bagging three trophies in t
Here's hoping Fergie can raise a glass or two to a couple winners in two weeks' time.
FREE BETS GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chases their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org
Source: Read Full Article
