A horse named What A Friend had Sir Alex Ferguson smiling after it came home first in the Totesport Bowl on the first dat of the Grand National Meeting at Aintree.
The Old Trafford boss is a part-owner of the seven-year-old that is trained by Paul Nicholls.
The win had the Scot grinning from ear to ear and eraased for a few mintuse at least memories of Wednesday's defeat and exit from the UEFA Champions League for United at the hands of Bayern Munich.
With top jockey Ruby Walsh in the saddle What a Friend won the Grade One chase by three-and-a-quarter lengths from Carruthers.
Alex Ferguson said: "I'm very pleased, it's fantastic and I was so excited. It's great. That's the beauty of the racing game. Every fence you're jumping yourself, that's the beauty of it.
"We knew the form of Carruthers because we've run against him in the past, so I was quite happy, but the other fella (Nacarat) gave me a fright.
"I've had a lot of great winners, but to win a race of this magnitude and class is fantastic. I'm really pleased.
"He's a young horse and the aim is to go to the Gold Cup next year."
Commenting on his team's exit from Europe at the hands of Bayern Munich, he added: "Life is like that. Every day is a different day.
"You have your disappointments and no-one died last night. That's the important thing and you move on."
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