Fergie’s bumper season
WHEN the Sir Alex Ferguson- owned I’m Fraam Govan came under orders for a bumper in May on the last day of the football season, Manchester United looked to have had the Premier League title wrapped up.
Manchester City were trailing QPR 2- 1 but, by the time his five- year- old had impressively won the two- mile race at Worcester, City had bounced back to win 3- 2 and scupper manager Fergie’s dream finish.
I’m Fraam Govan, named after Fergie’s home town, will hopefully be back in action on the Lingfield allweather tomorrow – if the jumps card survives – to vindicate trainer George Baker’s belief that he has a Champion Bumper contender for the Festival. “That was some day last May,” recalled Baker. “Just before he ran, United were champions but, by the time he had finished, they had lost it. The commentator said, ‘ well that’s the only thing Fergie will win today.”
That afternoon I’m Fraam Govan won on the bridle from Easter Day, who has since shown he is no slouch by winning two hurdles races.
“We think the world of him,” said Baker. “But I’ve been informed that Mick Channon also has a good one in the same race as us at Lingfield.”
Channon, the former Southampton and England striker, will be represented by Sgt Reckless, an eight - length winner at Wincanton just two days after I’m Fraam Govan scored.