Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson has had a lot of success in horse racing since retiring from football management, and he is bidding for more glory in the biggest races in the sport at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.
Ferguson landed a double at the meeting in 2024, and with some strong chances set to carry his colours this year, he may end up in the winner’s enclosure once again.
Protektorat to defend his crown in day three championship race
One of Ferguson’s most successful horses has been Protektorat.
He landed the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in 2024.
The 10-year-old chaser is 6/1 in the betting on Cheltenham races to defend his crown in the championship race this year.
The latest renewal of the Ryanair Chase could be one of the strongest in the race’s history.
Irish horse, Fact To File, heads the horse racing betting, at 7/4, while French raider, Il Est Francias, is also expected to line up in the 2m4½f contest.
Protektorat produced his best performance of the season so far in the Fleur De Lys Chase at Windsor last time out.
He blew his rivals away by 23 lengths in that race at the Berkshire Winter Million Meeting.
Dan Skelton has opted against running his horse in the Cheltenham Gold Cup this year.
The Lodge Hill handler tops the Trainers’ Championship standings going into the meeting.
If Ferguson’s horse can give him a big race winner at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival, it will take him another step closer towards a maiden title.
L’Eau Du Sud has strong Arkle claims
Novice chaser L’Eau Du Sud will put his unbeaten record over fences on the line for Ferguson in the Arkle Trophy this year.
The seven-year-old old is arguably the brightest novice set to feature at the Festival for the former Manchester United boss.
The seven-year-old won the Grade One Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown earlier this season.
He has also recorded victories in the Arkle Challenge Trial Novices’ Chase and Kingmaker Novices’ Chase.
The latter came at Warwick on his most recent appearance.
L’Eau Du Sud will tackle Majborough in this year’s Arkle on day one of the meeting. The Irish horse has won both of his two races over fences in style, with his latest win coming in the Irish Arkle at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Caldwell Potter Looking to Justify Expensive Price Tag
With a price tag of just over £600,000, a lot has been expected of Caldwell Potter this season.
He began the campaign with victory at Carlisle in a novice chase but has been beaten on his two starts since then.
Ferguson has entered his horse in the Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.
Trainer Paul Nicholls won the Grade Two contest with Stage Star in 2023.
The former Champion Trainer will be hoping his latest novice chaser can enhance his reputation in this race before a possible tilt at the Gold Cup next season.
The 2025 Cheltenham Festival takes place between 11-15 March, and details of the race schedule and remaining tickets on sale can be found at the racecourse’s official website.
Picture credit: Free to use from Pixabay
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