Cheltenham Festival: Ferguson and Redknapp land winners – as it happened

Time to sign off after a big day for football managers at Cheltenham, with Sir Alex Ferguson winning a double and a t’riffic result for Harry Redknapp too. Join me tomorrow for seven more races, including the Gold Cup. Back of the net!

Here are Greg’s previews and tips for all of Friday’s action.

It’s the landmark 100th Gold Cup day tomorrow – Greg Wood looks back at a century of racing thrills:

Here’s Barry Glendenning on the British fightback, as home trainers won five of the seven races on St Patrick’s Thursday.

A word on Paisley Park, who ran his final race in the Stayers’ Hurdle earlier. Emma Lavelle has confirmed that the hugely popular 12-year-old, who won the race in 2019, will now be retired.

“We have an awful lot to thank him for, we really do,” Lavelle said. “It’s definitely the right thing to do, we said this season would be on a race-by-race basis but he kept running his heart out, it was just a shame he couldn’t get his head in front for one last time.

“Today was the big test and he doesn’t have the same pace that he used to, that turbo button is missing and based on that, Andrew [Gemmill, the owner] had a discussion as we crossed the line and as he’s done so much for us, he doesn’t need to do any more.”

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Ireland get another point on the board to end the day, but they lead the Prestbury Cup standings by just 12 wins to Britain’s eight.

Cheltenham 5.30 result
1 Inothewayurthinkin (Mr Derek O’Connor) 13-8 Fav
2 Git Maker (Mr William Biddick) 28-1
3 Whacker Clan (Mr J L Gleeson) 17-2
4 Where It All Began (Mr B O’Neill) 8-1
22 ran. Non-runners: 5,22

Angels Dawn goes down at the second-last, leaving Git Maker and Inothewayurthinkin to contest the victory as Demnat slips back. It’s not much of a contest as Inothewayurthinkin canters through to win by a distance. Git Maker must settle for second place after a fine effort.

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Rapper is unseated at an open ditch, while Angels Dawn moves into contention. Inothewayurthinkin isn’t done yet, and is gaining ground on the outside …

The field is starting to spread out, with Inothewayurthinkin heading backwards rather than closer to the leaders. Whacker Clan, Denmat, Rapper, Git Maker and Annual Invictus all in the leading group …

Fulke Walwyn/Kim Muir: Grozni, Fakir D’alene and Flash De Touzaine all struggling at the back. Whacker Clan leads from Demnat, with Inothewayurthinkin biding their time in midfield …

Fulke Walwyn/Kim Muir: They get away at the second time of asking. Whacker Clan sets the early pace, with Rapper, Cloudy Glen and Git Maker in behind the leader.

They’re off in the Fulke Walwyn/Kim Muir … or not. It’s the first false start of the day. The group will regather after heading out way too quickly there. Watch out for Bowtogreatness, a potential second winner of the day for Harry Redknapp, at around 14-1.

5.30 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup odds

The last race of the day, with a big field to choose from …

• Inothewayurthinkin, 2/1

• Daily Present, 6/1

• Whacker Clan, 7/1

• Where It All Began, 17/2

• Bowtogreatness, 14/1

• Angels Dawn, 16/1

• Cool Survivor, 16/1

• Git Maker, 22/1

• Cloudy Glen, 25/1

• Chavez, 25/1

• Dom Of Mary, 25/1

• Fakir D’Alene, 33/1

• Rapper, 33/1

• City Chief, 35/1

• Annual Invictus, 50/1

• Demnat, 50/1

• A Wave Of The Sea, 50/1

• Cepage, 70/1

• Grozni, 80/1

• Celebre DAllen, 90/1

• Whistleinthedark, 100/1

• Flash De Touzaine, 125/1

• Via Oddschecker

Market Movers from Oddspedia:

• Inothewayyourthinkin 3/1 into 2/1

• Git Maker 25/1 into 18/1

More from Sir Alex Ferguson after the managerial legend saw two horses that he part-owns win consecutive races earlier today.

“I’ve finally had a winner here, I can’t believe it. The jockey was absolutely brilliant on him. I was thinking at the start, ‘what the hell is he doing at the back?’, but he crept forward and judged it perfectly.”

“It has been probably 20 years that I’ve wanted to have a winner here. When I first started I just had Flat horses and no National Hunt ones. “It’s special here, it’s like the Derby or the FA Cup final and I’ve waited a while to experience this.

“Of course it’s not the same as winning at football, that was my life, I was immersed in that, this is what I do for pleasure so it’s a different feeling. I don’t have to worry about it, I leave that to the trainer.”

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Victory for trainer Jeremy Scott, delivered by jockey Lorcan Williams – and another point in Britain’s column. Having feared an embarrassing blowout this week, British trainers now trail by just three wins, with Ireland leading 11-8.

Jade De Grugy and Birdie Or Bust stutter at the second-last, allowing Golden Ace and Brighterdaysahead to get involved. The latter two have the momentum down the inside over the last, and it’s Golden Ace who gets the win!

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Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle: Victoria Milano continues to lead, but now only by a couple of lengths from Birdie or Bust, with Jade De Grugy also well-placed. Mollys Mango and Majestic Force currently bringing up the rear …

They’re off in the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle! Victoria Milano, a 150-1 outsider who may be the best chance of another football-related winner, makes an early burst at a surely unsustainable pace.

4.50 Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle odds

• Brighterdaysahead 5/6

• Jade De Grugy 2/1

• Golden Ace 11/1

• Birdie Or Bust 14/1

• Majestic Force 40/1

• Mollys Mango 40/1

• Titanium Moon 70/1

• Victoria Milano 150/1

• Via Oddschecker

Market Movers from Oddspedia:

• Brighterdaysahead 11/8 into 5/6

• Jade De Grugy 4/1 into 2/1

Here’s how 24-year-old jockey Ben Jones led Shakem Up’Arry home for trainer Ben Pauling and owner Redknapp. Another win for Britain, they now lead 4-1 today.

Cheltenham 4.10 result
1 Shakem Up’arry (Ben Jones) 8-1
2 Crebilly (Jonjo O’Neill Jr.) 7-2
3 Straw Fan Jack (Sean Houlihan) 28-1
4 Life In The Park (M P O’Connor) 28-1
21 ran. Also: 10-3 Fav Theatre Man

Harry Redknapp talks: “My nan got me into it, she used to be a bookie’s runner back when it was illegal! She ended up in Poplar police station every week! Me and Sir Alex both love the racing, love the football too. This means more than winning I’m A Celebrity … to have a winner at Cheltenham, it’s one of the greatest days of my life.”

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Shakem Up’Arry pulls clear and leads by three lengths at the last. Crebilly has been there or thereabouts and now moves up to second, with Straw Man Jack charging through. Is the leader tiring? He’s got enough in the tank to get home – and deliver another football winner, this time for Harry Redknapp!

Plate Handicap Chase: Frero Banbou, Shakem Up’Arry and Straw Fan Jack all keeping pace near the front as Fighter Allen drifts back, while Killer Kane is struggling with the pace. Four fences to go …

They’re off in the Plate Handicap Chase, after a standing start with the drizzle a little heavier out on the New Course now. And Theatre Man is down at the third fence! Glengouly is the early leader, alongside Fighter Allen and Ciel De Neige …

4.10 TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase odds

• Theatre Man 3/1

• Crebilly 5/1

• Shakem Uparry 7/1

• Saint Felicien 8/1

• Arctic Bresil 9/1

• James Du Berlais 14/1

• Il Ridoto 16/1

• In Excelsis Deo 16/1

• Riaan 22/1

• Glengouly 25/1

• Watch House Cross 25/1

• Frero Banbou 28/1

• Life In The Park 33/1

• Straw Fan Jack 40/1

• Killer Kane 40/1

• Torn And Frayed 50/1

• Fighter Allen 70/1

• Mars Harper 80/1

• Embittered 80/1

• Hereditary Rule 80/1

• Ciel De Neige 90/1

• Via Oddschecker

Market Movers from Oddspedia:

• Theatre Man 6/1 into 3/1

• Arctic Bresel 12/1 into 9/1

In case you missed them earlier, here are Greg Wood’s tipping previews for the 4.10, 4.50 and 5.30 races coming up.

That victory for Teahupoo gets Ireland on the board today after three British wins. In the overall Prestbury Cup battle, Irish trainers now lead 11-6 over the entire week.

Cheltenham 3.30 result
1 Teahupoo (J W Kennedy) 5-4 Fav
2 Flooring Porter (K M Donoghue) 9-1
3 Home By The Lee (J J Slevin) 16-1
12 ran. Also: 40-1 Buddy One 4th
Non Runner: 3

Jockey Jack Kennedy looks a relieved man after finally delivering Gordon Elliott a win this week. “He’s an amazing horse, makes my job very easy. You can put him anywhere you want in a race, he jumps great. The horses have been running well, but it was starting to annoy me yesterday.”

It’s Teahupoo and 50-1 Buddy One who keep pace with Flooring Porter, and the pre-race favourite gets an edge over the last fence and outlasts the former winner down the straight. Home By The Lee comes through to take third place.

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Stayers’ Hurdle: Still a tight group moving at a steady pace with two to jump now. Flooring Porter still leads, with Teahupoo, Paisley Park and Crambo all looking to make moves …

Stayers’ Hurdle: Flooring Porter takes up the lead from Asterion Forlonge, but the entire field are within seven lengths at halfway.

They’re off in the Stayers’ Hurdle! Noble Yeats and Asterion Forlonge are the leading pair, with Flooring Porter in third despite an early stumble and Dashel Drasher leading the pack. Janidil is the back marker.

Alex Ferguson celebrating his second win of the day, alongside Sam Allardyce and Alan Halsall, aka Tyrone from Coronation Street. Also watching from the stands today is actor Bill Nighy.

3.30 Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle odds

• Teahupoo 6/4

• Sir Gerhard 15/2

• Noble Yeats 15/2

• Crambo 15/2

• Flooring Porter 10/1

• Sire Du Berlais 11/1

• Paisley Park 18/1

• Home By The Lee 18/1

• Dashel Drasher 28/1

• Asterion Forlonge 40/1

• Buddy One 50/1

• Janidil 100/1

• Via Oddschecker

Market Movers from Oddspedia:

• Teahupoo 5/2 into 6/4

• Flooring Porter 14/1 into 10/1

14 Mar 202411.12 EDT

Greg Wood

5.30 Fulke Walwyn/Kim Muir Handicap Chase

A field of 24 runners and amateur riders for the getting-out race, and a surprisingly warm favourite in the circumstances with Inothewayurthinkin currently trading at around 9-4. He ticks plenty of boxes, as Gavin Cromwell has a fine Festival record already and Derek O’Connor is one of the best amateurs in the game, but this is quite the test for a horse with only four starts over fences in the book.

His short price does ensure that each-way options abound, however, and Angels Dawn – last year’s winner off an 11lb lower mark – is certainly among them, along with Where It All Began, and the veteran Cloudy Glen, with Lucy Turner, successful on the 40-1 shot Chambard two years ago, holding the reins. Daily Present, a 14-1 chance yesterday, has also been attracting support, and is another that goes to post with a definite chance under leading point-to-point rider, Jack Hendrick. Selection: Daily Present.

“I’ve been coming here for 15, 20 years without a winner, now I’ve had two in 40 minutes,” says Sir Alex Ferguson. “It’s unbelievable. It’s a special place – Cheltenham’s like the FA Cup final, the Derby. Is it better? It is now!”

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Cheltenham 2.50 result
1 Protektorat (Harry Skelton) 17-2
2 Envoi Allen (Rachael Blackmore) 9-4 Fav
3 Conflated (J W Kennedy) 11-1
11 ran. Also: 9-1 Capodanno 4th

Jockey Harry Skelton: “He’s as mad as a wasp, he’s so difficult, you’ve got to be so patient. But today he was settled, tough … he deserves it, this horse. He’s had his day in the sun.” Skelton is also keen to highlight the work of Protektorat’s groom, Izzy, who says: “He comes alive on the gallop, I love this horse so much. We’re having an incredible week.”

Another win for the Skeltons – and another for part-owner Sir Alex Ferguson – as Protektorat takes the lead approaching the last fence and holds off the challenge of Envoi Allen.

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Ryanair Chase: They stay in formation, although Conflated has joined the leaders while Fugitif and Ga Law have fallen away. Now Blackmore makes a move on Envoi Allen, up against Protektorat at the last …

Ryanair Chase: Envoi Allen is in midfield, just off the pace of the leading five – Stage Star, Ahoy Senor, Protektorat, Banbridge and Hitman. The other five runners are bringing up the rear with eight to jump …

They’re off in the Ryanair Chase! One of Thursday’s two big races, and it looks set to be a quick and highly competitive race. Envoi Allen looks a little uneasy before they get away. The syndicate-owned Stage Star makes the early running, just ahead of Ahoy Senor with Protektorat third …

14 Mar 202410.44 EDT

Greg Wood

4.50 Mares’ Novice Hurdle

Betterdaysahead is now an odds-on favourite for this race following the bitterly disappointing news that Fergal O’Brien’s Dysart Enos, who was unbeaten in six starts under Rules and was expected to set off as a strong third-favourite, has been ruled out after pulling up slightly lame this morning. Gordon Elliott has made little secret of his high regard for the five-year-old in the run-up to this meeting, and an unbeaten record after five starts speaks for itself, but Jade De Grugy has also emerged as a very live contender for the Willie Mullins stable and there is very little to choose between the pair on ratings. Jade De Grugy, in fact, arguably has more scope for progress after just two starts over timber, and looks the better bet at around 2-1. Selection: Jade De Grugy.