Cheltenham Festival: Sir Alex Ferguson among winners as Rachael Blackmore takes stunning double

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was back in the winner’s enclosure on Thursday as horse Caldwell Potter won the Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase, as Paul Nicholls brought up his 50th winner at the Cheltenham Festival.

Running in the colours of the late John Hales, Caldwell Potter led from the off, beating Ken Budds’ 125-1 Anyway, with another outsider, O’Moore Park back in third.

Look at what it means to Paul Nicholls and Sir Alex Ferguson 🙏🥹 pic.twitter.com/HbIHaaF1dO

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 13, 2025

Ferguson, 83, said: “You can’t buy how I feel now, it’s fantastic.

“The difference in football is if you buy an expensive player, you have plenty of time to assess them, you work out the type of player you need and what will fit your team and do they have the character – you can’t do that with a horse, you can’t look into their character, so it’s a gamble.

“With a footballer, it’s a long-term thing, they can start at 17 and play until they are 41, like Ryan Giggs, whereas with a horse, when they get to 10, 11, 12 you start to wonder how much longer they will last.

“No matter how long this horse lasts, he has done something today we are so proud of.”

Blackmore off the mark with double

Rachael Blackmore won an inspired double with wins aboard Air Of Entitlement in the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, and then Bob Olinger in the Stayers’ Hurdle.

The Queen of Cheltenham! 👑

Rachael Blackmore does it again 👏#ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival | @rachaelblackmor pic.twitter.com/KHxle08aTF

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 13, 2025

The six-year-old Air Of Entitlement set off as a 16-1 chance in the Novices and after a false start, powered up the hill to edge a half-length victory.

Blackmore, riding her 17th Festival winner, said: “It’s an incredible feeling. I read an interview recently with JP McManus when he said some people are born luckier than others and I definitely feel like I was born luckier for going round here anyway.

“I’ve been so lucky with the horses I’ve got to ride and this mare is another one. She travelled through the race and jumped well and got her head in front at the right time.”

On having to wait until day three of the Festival for a winner, Blackmore said: “You can’t lose faith, we’re only halfway through the week. We’ve been a bit spoilt in the last few years as every Tuesday I’ve walked home with a winner under our belt. It wasn’t the case this year but I’m so grateful to get one today.”

She didn’t have long to wait for her next though, as Bob Olinger beat last year’s winner Teahupoo in a thrilling Stayers’ Hurdle battle.

“I’m very lucky to be on this horse. He is brilliant. He has so much speed and could use it,” she said.

Wins for Jagwar and Fact To File

Fact To File was bold in winning the Ryanair Chase as the 6-4 favourite galloped clear by nine lengths ahead of Heart Wood.

And Jagwar was another favourite to deliver, winning the TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase.