SIR ALEX FERGUSON banged in an £80,000 winner on Merseyside – as he celebrated a stunning 1-3 on Grand National day.
The iconic Manchester United manager was unlucky in the big race itself, with his sole runner Hitman being pulled up
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But he struck in the very next race courtesy of superstar horse Kalif Du Berlais.
Sent off 15-8 under top jockey Harry Cobden for trainer Paul Nicholls, the crack 2m chaser could be called the winner a long way out.
And his win in the Grade Maghull Novices’ Chase was worth a cool £67,524.
While third-place L’Eau Du Sud, who went off the 5-4 fav under Harry Skelton, came third, netting a further £12,732.
That took earnings from the two horses – who Sir Alex owns with a few close personal friends – to a whopping £80,526.
Earlier in the day, Nick Rockett sealed a fairytale Grand National win for Bradford-born Stewart Andrew – with his beloved late wife’s favourite horse.
The Willie Mullins-trained monster ridden by amateur jockey and son Patrick saw off last year’s winner I Am Maximus at huge odds of 33-1.
Andrew’s wife Sadie died from cancer in December 2022 just days after seeing Nick Rockett’s debut run – and mere weeks after being diagnosed.
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He said after his horse’s win: “Sadie would have loved this.
“She’s up there and she’ll have had a tenner each-way I can guarantee.”
Nick Rockett is still officially owned by Stewart and Sadie – but it is just Stewart who travels between Britain and Ireland watching his superstar horse.
And he will have looked to the skies toasting his late wife after the win of a lifetime, which sealed him a cheque for £500,000.
Unflappable Mullins, the top trainer over jumps who’s won everything there is to win multiple times, broke down in tears on live TV after – the emotion of the incredible win far too much even for him.
He threatened to bawl his eyes out earlier this year when Nick Rockett won a big race in Ireland – but just about managed to keep his emotions in check.
But the enormity of the Grand National – the world’s most famous race – and winning it for a true pal saw him totally overcome.
Stewart hoisted Patrick – who recently became a father and had another big win earlier in the week on Gaelic Warrior – on his shoulders as they marched back into the winner’s enclosure under the blazing spring sunshine.
Maybe it was fate because in the days before this win Patrick went on TV saying he was angling for the ride on Nick Rockett – even though he often has to play second fiddle to the pro jockeys riding for his dad.
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