No protests against Magnier by United fans

Today’s expected racecourse protests by Manchester United supporters have failed to materialise so far at Sandown and Chepstow.

Both racecourses were put on alert following yesterday’s disturbances at Hereford, orchestrated by a group calling themselves the ‘Manchester Education Committee’.

The group’s principal gripe is against millionaire Irish owners and United chief shareholders JP McManus and John Magnier, both of whom had big-race hopes at Sandown today.

A letter was last week sent by the two men to the United board, requesting a detailed response to 99 questions about the propriety of the club’s transfer dealings in recent years.

That was interpreted in some quarters as a means by which United may become unsettled during a legal wrangle between manager Sir Alex Ferguson and Magnier.

Ferguson is suing his former racing pal over the stud rights to the now retired Flat racehorse Rock of Gibraltar.

The disquiet manifested itself at Hereford when two dozen protesters, some carrying banners and flags, burst on to the course and stood in front of a fence to prevent the 4.20 race getting away on time.

After the two-mile race had started – 12 minutes late – McManus’ runner Majestic Moonbeam ran and jumped as its 33-1 starting price suggested it would, unseating its rider when already behind by the fifth fence.

Both McManus and Magnier appeared to have much better chances at Sandown today, with the former’s champion staying hurdler Baracouda and the Champion Hurdle hopeful Rhinestone Cowboy which is owned by the latter’s wife and was ridden by his son JP.

Rhinestone Cowboy duly won his Cheltenham trial, taking the Agfa Hurdle at 2-5 untroubled by either his opponents or any Manchester United supporters.

The prolific Baracouda also landed the odds in his race – without any unwelcome attention – and in between McManus outsiders Tidjani (second) and Creon were unsuccessful but also unhampered in the 2.35 at Chepstow.