In the last two years, the French-bred gelding Protektorat finished third and fifth in the Grade 1 Cheltenham Gold Cup at 3 5/16 miles at Cheltenham Racecourse in Britain, jump racing’s premier weight-for-age race. It turns out Protektorat is certainly a Grade 1 horse, just not at that distance. On Thursday at Cheltenham, Protektorat won the most prestigious race of his seven-year career in the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase at about 2 1/2 miles. A 9-year-old, Protektorat is co-owned by Alex Ferguson, the former manager of Manchester United. :: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets. Protektorat ($20.20 in American pools) closed from a stalking position in a field of 11 to win the $496,000 Ryanair Chase by four lengths over 8-5 favorite Envoi Allen, who won the race in 2023. Protektorat is trained by Dan Skelton, and was ridden by his brother Harry. Protektorat, co-owned by Ged Mason and John and Lisa Hales, has won 7 of 26 starts in a career that began in France in 2018 when the then-colt was a 3-year-old. Ferguson and his partners on Protektorat were already in the midst of a successful day before the Ryanair Chase. In the preceding race, a three-mile handicap hurdle, they watched Monmiral ($63.40) record the biggest upset so far of the four-day Cheltenham festival, which continues through Friday with a program highlighted by the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The Ryanair Chase was the richest race of seven on a rainy Thursday at Cheltenham. In the Grade 1 Stayers’ Hurdle at three miles, favored Teahupoo ($4) had an ideal trip under jockey Jack Kennedy, racing in midpack before winning by 2 1/4 lengths over 8-1 Flooring Porter. Trained in Ireland by Gordon Elliott, Teahupoo was third in the 2023 Stayers’ Hurdle. This year’s race had a purse of $415,300. Thursday’s program was a day for former British soccer managers turned horse owners. In a handicap chase at 2 9/16 miles, Shakeem Up’Arry ($14.80) recorded a minor upset for Harry Redknapp, who has coached no fewer than 10 teams in Britain and in the United States, including the Seattle Sounders in the 1970s. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.