Caldwell Potter (7-1) became the 50th winner at The Festival for 14-times champion Jump trainer Paul Nicholls when he made virtually all to land the newly introduced Grade Two Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase by six and a half lengths.

Racing in the colours of the late John Hales, the seven-year-old grey is jointly owned by four others including Ged Mason and former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Caldwell Potter was sold to his current connections for a then record €740,000 in February 2024.

Sir Alex Ferguson said: “We were thinking of John Hales earlier, because he decided to buy the horse - his colours, grey horse, all the memories of John Hales. Absolutely brilliant. We shared a lot of great days together. I think he introduced us to the level you have to get to to win, and some of the horses we bought were a bit more expensive than we would have done before.

“When you see that today, it doesn’t matter the price - it’s inexpensive. It’s absolutely fantastic.

“The difference in football [between buying expensive players and horses] is that you get plenty of time to assess them, to work out the kind of player you need and where they would fit in, and also the character. You can’t do that with a horse - you can’t look into the character of a horse; it’s a bit of a gamble. You can get a player young, like Ryan Giggs; with a horse once they get to 10, 11, 12, you’re starting to wonder how long they’re going to last.

“But today it doesn’t matter how long a horse lasts - he’s done something today we’re very proud of.”

Paul Nicholls said: “We switched him into John [Hales]’s colours - I don’t think the other boys even knew we were doing that - and Pat’s delighted, obviously. It’s taken a long while to get him right - he’s done some good work at home, he’s had problems with his feet, and that’s all sort of disappeared of late.

“We always had a positive plan; he jumps brilliantly. Everyone was telling me what to do and what not to do, trip-wise, and I felt he wanted a trip. I think he’d gallop forever, and it’s just good to get him back.

“Harry is good in front. He’s such a brilliant jumper and such a genuine horse, and he’s better than a handicapper, and he’d got to a nice low mark. He’s hasn’t run at all badly this season - the Cheltenham run here before turned out to be good, it’s just that he had such a big price tag, he’s had to put up with that, and you get plenty of stick. It doesn’t matter, when they come through that front gate they’re all worth the same, you’ve just got to work away and get them right, and today he was right. They just need time and a bit of patience and you need to learn about them.

“I never thought I’d train 50 Festival winners when I started. It’s fantastic - any winner here is fantastic, and if you get a winner here, anything on top of that is a bonus. It hasn’t been the best season for us; I do not know why, some of the horses have been wrong, and some and right, and the ones which are right run well.

“John was such a brilliant supporter of mine and friend, and for a lot of people in racing. To win in his colours is unbelievable - what a day.”

Harry Cobden said: “Brilliant. He’s been a very difficult horse to train. Fair play to Paul and Clifford and all the team at home, because this horse hasn’t come without his problems, but they had him 110% today. Travelled great, jumped beautifully, I just had to get the fractions right.

“He was very quick, very efficient [in his jumping]. I just felt on the way round that I was taking lengths out of other horses. You watch him at the ditch at the top of the hill, he half took me on into that. He was so, so good in front, he sprung up in the air. Brilliant. Couldn’t be happier.”

He added: “When you don’t have the horses, it’s a long, lonely week. We got a bit of stick when this horse came along obviously, because of his price tag. But he’s proved everyone wrong – he’s cheap now, isn’t he!”

The jockey went on to say: “I couldn’t be happier. I thought his jumping was brilliant all the way round and he travelled great. I was happy with where I was, and to be fair to the horse, he never missed a beat and every question I asked, he delivered. It was never the plan to go off in front, but I was always in control and no one really wanted to go forward after the first, so I thought, ‘right, we’ll have a go’. He’s slick and quick and clever with his jumping; he half-ran at the ditch at the top of the hill.

“I brought him back and I thought he might gallop into the ditch, but he was very clever, he was on springs, really. He probably looks a bit slow on the way round at times, but the fastest way to get a slow horse beat is to go too fast, but at the same time you can’t go too slow because they’ll sprint past you. You have to make sure they get their breathers and use their jumping.”

Ken Budds, trainer of runner-up Anyway (125-1) said: “He ran a cracker. I didn’t think he would be that price. His novice chase runs, apart from one, were very good and they were in good company.

"We knew he was tough and ready for today, but he just ran into a good one.

“He toughed it out, but he probably wanted it a little bit better. He ran a super race and I couldn’t be happier. He is a grand horse and we are having fun with him.

“That was my first runner here. It is great to get here, never mind getting into second place so hopefully we will be back.

“Davy (Russell) is friendly with the owners and he has been riding him out all week. Davy plans the races for him and it is up to me to get them ready.

“We had little bits here and there on him as he was a great price each-way.

“He is a summer horse, but we will get over this and see where we go next. It might sound stupid, but I thought we would be there. I know my horse and his ability. I would have been disappointed if he wasn’t in the first five.”

Sean O’Keeffe, rider of the third O’Moore Park (66-1), said: “He has run a blinder. He jumped well and stuck at it really well. I would say going up in trip will suit him.

“I had a nice position everywhere. I was following the winner and he was just very good on the day.”

Paul Nicholls – 50 Festival wins
Harry Cobden – 6 Festival wins