A punter won big after placing a bet on Sir Alex Ferguson's horse and three others in the nick of time.
The Betfair customer confirmed their acca just nine minutes before Fergie's thoroughbred Il Ridoto won at Cheltenham on Saturday. Putting on just £2, they chose the Paddy Power Cheltenham Countdown Podcast Handicap Chase scorer and several other selections.
But to their amazement all of them in the £1 each-way wager raced to victory – and a sizeable payout was forthcoming.
As well as 11-2 shot Il Ridoto, a Paul Nicholls-trained handicapper the Manchester United legend owns in a partnership, the racing fan picked out other National Hunt horses.
New trainer Harry Derham has made a bright start to his career and Dargiannini (8-1) was the second leg of the bet. Il Ridoto's former stablemate finished seven lengths clear in Uttoxeter's Diegos 69th Keep Batting Birthday Handicap Hurdle.
Then the punter turned their attentions to Doncaster, where they went against the Nicholls-trained favourite Stay Away Fay with Maximilian.
One of several high-profile winners carrying the Owners Group silks, Donald McCain's runner mastered his Grade 2 Albert Bartlett River Don Novices' Hurdle rivals by upwards of a length.
Champion jockey Brian Hughes took a daring route up the inner to get the 17-2 tip home.
With most of the focus on the Festival Trials Day card at Cheltenham, the punter chose the quieter meeting at Uttoxeter to round off the day. The longest-priced pick, Tip Top Mountain (11-1), had to return to form in the Paul Wainwright Superams 60th Birthday Celebrations Handicap Chase.
And that he did, but not without plenty of late drama.
Hometown Hero headed Tip Top Mountain before the final fence and Bryan Carver's mount had to fight back bravely to poke his nose back in front. The final success, recorded by the narrowest possible margin, earned the punter £6,716.
Betfair spokesman Barry Orr said: ‘’Tip Top Mountain, the fourth and final leg, traded at 18-1 in-running when headed, but he showed a steely resolve to battle back and win on the nod.
‘’It was a fantastic bet and it’s great to see such a big win for a £2 stake."
