Sir Alex Ferguson tipped for Cheltenham Festival win as prime 5 contenders named
Sir Alex Ferguson is hoping to replicate his Cheltenham Festival success with Maestro Conti backed as ‘one of our best chances of the week’ by champion trainer Dan Skelton
Sir Alex Ferguson, with winners at Cheltenham in 2024 and 2025, has been tipped for another by Dan Skelton.(Image: PA)
Sir Alex Ferguson’s Maestro Conti has been touted as a strong contender for this year’s Cheltenham Festival by Dan Skelton, a trainer with 11 festival wins under his belt. The legendary Manchester United manager is looking to repeat his successes from 2024 and 2025, where he had three winners.
Maestro Conti is set to compete in the JCB Triumph Hurdle at 1.20pm on Friday and is currently the fourth favourite behind Practif, Selma De Vary, and Minella Study. However, Skelton is particularly bullish about the four-year-old’s chances in the 25-runner field.
Ferguson enjoyed a significant win at Cheltenham last year on day three when Caldwell Potter took the Jack Richards Novices’ Chase at 25-1. The horse was part of a syndicate purchased by Ferguson and the late John Hales for £630,000 in 2024, making it the most expensive jump horse at a public auction.
Skelton is currently leading the trainers’ championship with an impressive 158 wins, 415 places, and £3.4million in earnings from 837 runs.
In an interview with The Daily Mail ahead of the Cheltenham Festival, which kicks off on Tuesday, Skelton expressed his enthusiasm for Maestro Conti’s chances, saying: “He’s one of our best chances of the week. I’ve always tried to have a plan and stick to it. I was delighted with him at Cheltenham on Trials Day in January.”
Ferguson had a successful 2024 Festival, with two winners, marking his first victories as a syndicate at Cheltenham.
Skelton’s stable is off to a flying start, with Monmiral and Protektorat both securing wins in their respective events. This season presents a golden opportunity for Skelton to break Willie Mullins’ two-year stranglehold on the Champion Trainer title.
The world of jump racing has been largely dominated by Paul Nicholls since the 2005-06 season, with Nicky Henderson claiming the coveted trophy four times in 2012-13, 2016-17, 2017-18, and 2019-20. However, Mullins halted Nicholls’ bid for a fourth consecutive title between 2020 and 2024.
Skelton has high hopes for The New Lion in Tuesday’s Champion Hurdle, saying: “He’s in great physical condition and I wouldn’t swap him. We know he’s got the speed for two miles and we were delighted with his warm up here in January.”
MyDaddyPaddy is another Skelton-trained horse tipped for success on the opening day at Cheltenham, as the five-year-old takes on notable opponents like Old Park Star, Talk the Talk, and Mighty Park in the festival’s first race.
Although Skelton is exercising caution with Kabral Du Mathan, he is happy for the horse to step up to three miles in Thursday’s Stayers Hurdle.
Panic Attack is Skelton’s top pick for the third race on Cheltenham’s final day. He said: “She is in unbelievable form; she’s won three races this year and I don’t know why she’s become so good. Her form has been phenomenal, her work is great: whatever beats her will win.”
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