Fergie’s Friend is primed for glory

THE life of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is anything but dull.

In charge of the nation’s most successful football team, you would think Ferguson has enough to think about, especially when you factor in the ongoing Wayne Rooney saga, a Champions League showdown with Chelsea tomorrow night and an FA Cup semi-final against bitter Manchester rivals City on Saturday week.

Ferguson is currently serving a touchline ban for disparaging remarks about a Premier League referee and will be watching from the stands when United entertain Fulham in the league on Saturday.

But, as the clock reaches 4.15pm, there is no doubt where his thoughts will lie.

That’s the time when his eight-year-old bay gelding What A Friend will bid for glory in the world’s most famous steeplechase – the John Smith’s Grand National,

What A Friend surpassed himself with his excellent fourth in the recent Cheltenham Gold Cup and a repeat of that effort would see him go close to winning at Aintree on Saturday.

Ferguson was at the Merseyside track last season to see the horse win the totesport Bowl over the Mildmay course and, if he takes to the daunting National fences, What A Friend could well give champion trainer Paul Nicholls his first winner of the great race.

Nicholls is confident that What A Friend has what it takes, declaring: “He must have a chance, especially if the ground is good.”

With the weather set fair for the weekend after today’s rain, there is every chance Nicholls and Ferguson will get their wish.

And victory for Fergie would complete a remarkable double as his Rock Of Gibraltar triumphed in the 2002 running of the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Most owners go through life without having a major-race winner.

But a Classic winner and a Grand National hero? Now that would be a double to rank alongside anything the United boss has achieved as a football manager.