Sir Alex Ferguson in for a huge 24 hours with bid to make history in Bahrain and two big Cheltenham fancies at home

1 month ago 11

SIR ALEX FERGUSON is in for an absolutely HUGE 24 hours as he bids to make history in Bahrain while also keeping an eye on Cheltenham.

The former Manchester United manager is currently in the Middle East hoping to get his hands on the $1million Bahrain International Trophy with his homebred Spirit Dancer.

a group of jockeys are racing horses on a track

Spirit Dancer has proved the horse of a lifetime for the Manchester United legend[/caption]

The Richard Fahey-trained horse gave his owner ‘the best moment yet’ when he won against the odds last season.

Meanwhile, back in Gloucestershire, two of his jumps horses will be bidding against the best at the biggest meeting so far this season.

The fan-favourite Protektorat and Il Ridoto both run on Saturday in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

The former, who he owns alongside John and Lisa Hales, is trained by Dan Skelton and is 14-1 for the 2m 4f race and is carrying top weight.

The Paul Nicholls trained Il Ridoto is much higher up the betting at 6-1 and has the top 3lb claimed Freddie Gingell onboard.

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The favourite, Ginny’s Destiny, is also Ditcheat trained and has been the pick of last year’s Champion jockey Harry Cobden.

Sir Alex told The Racing Post: “It’ll be very interesting and we’ll try to watch it her. Protektorat gave us a brilliant day at the Festival.

“Two miles four furlongs is definitely his distance. When he was running over three miles you just never knew if he was definitely going to win after that last fence.

“I know he did really well over that trip, but two and a half miles is his ultimate distance. We know he likes the track too.”

Having described his victory in the Bahrain International Trophy last year as ‘the best ever in racing’, he must be lining up to his super-weekend nervous as ever.

But Ferguson, who bred the horse himself, is confident in the pedigree.

Speaking to Racing TV while in Bahrain watching Spirit Dancer’s preparations for the race, he said: “Well, last year was an exceptional year for us.

“We know we have a good horse, but when he delivers what he did last year for us that’s special. Even though it was a bad draw, the jockey was in a great position and it was a great victory.

“You can see how Bahrain is developing a year on. It’s amazing the change.

“I thought two furlongs out he was going to win. He was travelling so well, all the rest were running along. So it was great to see, it really was. The pedigree is fantastic, Frankel, it’s a fantastic pedigree.”