Aintree Festival:Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson finally had something to smile about after a miserable week on the pitch when What A Friend, a horse he part owns, won the Grade One Aintree Bowl this afternoon.
The victory in Liverpool came hard on the heels of United's disappointing exit from the Champions League at the hands of Bayern Munich on away goals last night and the weekend's Premier League defeat by Chelsea which pushed his team down to second in the table.
"I've had a lot of great winners, but to win a race of this magnitude and class is fantastic. I'm really pleased," said Ferguson.
"It's great. That's the beauty of the racing game. Every fence you're jumping yourself, that's the beauty of it."
Referring to last night’s quarter-final defeat, he said: "You have your disappointments and no one died last night. That's the important thing and you move on. Life is like that. Every day is a different day."
Ridden by Ruby Walsh for champion trainer Paul Nicholls, What A Friend (5-2 second favourite) took up the running after the last fence to score by three and a quarter lengths from Carruthers.
It was a fine victory but one made easier by the fall half way round the second circuit by last month's Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander, the 11-8 favourite.
Ridden by Paddy Brennan, Imperial Commander had upset the script for the Gold Cup which had been billed as the all-time showdown between former winners Kauto Star and Denman.
But on a different track and racing less than three weeks later Imperial Commander was clearly struggling on the second circuit and the fall was not a complete surprise.
Ferguson was on hand to witness What A Friend's success and was jumping up and down with joy in the winner's enclosure and slapping all his companions on the back.
"It's a young horse, next year we're going for the Gold Cup," added a beaming Ferguson with a laugh.
Ferguson is no stranger to big-race success. He was a part owner of flat race champion Rock of Gibraltar who in 2001-2002 set a world record of seven consecutive Group One victories.
The Bowl was the highlight of the first day of the Grand National festival meeting.
Among the 40 runners for Saturday's eagerly anticipated blue riband event are Mon Mome, 100-1 winner last year, and 2008 hero Comply or Die.
Earlier in the day Big Buck’s (30-100 favourite) maintained his unbeaten record over timber with victory in the BGC Partners Liverpool Hurdle. While Ruby Walsh had to work harder on Paul Nicholls’ seven-year-old than he did in the World Hurdle at Cheltenham three weeks ago, he never looked likely to get beat.
Henry Daly’s Possol made a bold bid from the front and was still leading over the second-last, but Walsh had still to pop the question.
Souffleur ran a cracker to run on past Possol for second with Tidal Bay a never-nearer fourth.
Nicholls said: “He’s always like that. I was a bit worried. It was a small field and probably you’re not going to get an end-to-end gallop like you get in these championship races when he can hit a flat spot.
“It was difficult for Ruby. You don’t want to be in front and have him pull himself up three out. He’ll have a nice holiday now.
“It was quite nerve wracking. The pressure’s on and you just want it to go right.
“I suspect he’ll stick to hurdles next year. We have schooled him over baby fences at home and he did it really well. I don’t think he would have done that last year.
“We have got the option (of going chasing) in the future. Next year the plan would be to stay hurdling. We have got the option and can look at chasing the following year. He’s still only seven.”
Aintree Results
2.00 BGC Liverpool Hurdle
1 Big Buck's (R Walsh) 3-10 Fav
2 Souffleur (T J O'Brien) 16-1
3 Possol (R Johnson) 33-1
7 ran
Also: 15-2 Tidal Bay 4th
Non Runners: 5,8
2.35 4-Y-O Novices' Hurdle
1 Orsippus (D J Condon) 40-1
2 Barizan (A P McCoy) 9-2
3 Sanctuaire (R Walsh) 13-8 Fav
11 ran
Also: 25-1 Olofi 4th
3.10 Totesport Bowl Chase
1 What A Friend (R Walsh) 5-2
2 Carruthers (Matthew Batchelor) 10-1
3 Nacarat (A P McCoy) 4-1
5 ran
Also: 11-8 Fav Imperial Commander, 14-1 Calgary Bay 4th
3.45 John Smith's Fox Hunters' Chase
1 Silver Adonis (T Weston) 50-1
2 Moncadou (Mr Alan Berry) 16-1
3 Blu Teen (Mr R Mahon) 12-1
21 ran
Also: 5-2 Fav Baby Run, 50-1 Van Ness 4th
4.20 Red Rum Handicap Chase
1 Chaninbar (S Quinlan) 20-1
2 Doctor David (A Thornton) 17-2
3 Oiseau de Nuit (J Tizzard) 16-1
4 Enlightenment (Donal Fahy) 16-1
16 ran
Also: 6-1 Fav Consigliere
Non Runner: 17
4.55 Totesport Manifesto Novices' Chase
1 Mad Max (B J Geraghty) 4-1
2 Somersby (R Thornton) 6-4 Fav
3 The Nightingale (R Walsh) 11-4
6 ran
Also: 14-1 Othermix 4th
Non Runner: 1
5.30 Silver Corss handicap Hurdle
1 Sir Harry Ormesher (R Thornton) 16-1
2 Black Jack Blues (B J Geraghty) 14-1
3 Pistolet Noir (R Walsh) 16-1
4 Siberian Tiger (G Lee) 25-1
22 ran
Also: 4-1 Fav Wishfull Thinking