SIR ALEX FERGUSON banged in an £80,000 winner on Merseyside – as he celebrated a stunning 1-3 on Grand National day.
The iconic Manchester United manager was unlucky in the big race itself, with his sole runner Hitman being pulled up
Sir Alex Ferguson watches his horse Kalif Du Berlais win on Grand National day at Aintree – as he and mates won £80,000Rex
Kalif Du Berlais runs out the final Grade 1 winner of the Randox Grand National Festival under an excellent @CobdenHarry and on a good week for the @PFNicholls team pic.twitter.com/g9CxFoyMKR
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 5, 2025
But he struck in the very next race courtesy of superstar horse Kalif Du Berlais.
Sent off 15-8 under top jockey Harry Cobden for trainer Paul Nicholls, the crack 2m chaser could be called the winner a long way out.
And his win in the Grade 1 Maghull Novices’ Chase was worth a cool £67,524.
While third-place L’Eau Du Sud, who went off the 5-4 fav under Harry Skelton, came third, netting a further £12,732.
That took earnings from the two horses – who Sir Alex owns with a few close personal friends – to a whopping £80,526.
Sandwiched inbetween the pair was 25-1 Brookie for trainer Anthony Honeyball and jockey Sam Twiston-Davies.
The Grand National meeting is always good to Sir Alex and though he wasn’t a winner, Protektorat was still a financial success yesterday.
The former Ryanair winner ran his heart out to finish second to the awesome Jonbon in Friday’s Melling Chase.
Beaten a shade over three lengths, Protektorat’s runner-up finish was still worth a little more than £57,000.
Trainer Dan Skelton said afterwards: “We always know how well Protektorat will run for us and he always does.
“We’ve tried many times to beat Jonbon, but we can’t – we’re just not as good.
“It doesn’t mean we’re not very proud of him. That’s him done for the season and we can’t wait to do it all again next term.”
But it could be onto bigger and better things for Kalif Du Berlais now, who was made 25-1 for next year’s Champion Chase.
Sir Alex’s win came in a race not dominated by Willie Mullins for once.
The legendary Irish trainer landed a stunning 1-2-3 in the Grand National, with 33-1 Nick Rockett sealing a hugely emotional win for owner Stewart Andrew and his late wife Sadie.
He took the concluding bumper too, courtesy of 10-3 favourite Green Splendour.
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