Sir Alex Ferguson has downplayed his chances of continuing his winning ways at Aintree in Saturday’s Grand National.
The former Manchester United manager had three winners on day one of the meeting in Liverpool on Thursday and has a runner in the 40-strong National field, the Paul Nicholls-trained Give Me A Copper.
But after arguably his best day as a racehorse owner, he downplayed his chances: “On paper, it’s not got a great chance I don’t think but, if it gets into a rhythm, it’ll run well. But I don’t think it’ll win it.”
On a memorable day, he enjoyed three Grade 1 winners with Clan Des Obeaux clinching the Betway Bowl, after victories for Protektorat and Monmiral.
His National entry is only favoured as a 66-1 shot but Ferguson said he was relishing a second sporting career of sorts.
He told the BBC: “It’s a different industry for me. I was a manager for a long time and I was in control of that situation. My life doesn’t depend on it [in horse racing]. It’s enjoyment, a pastime.”
