Fans threaten festival

Manchester United fans are threatening to disrupt the Cheltenham Festival, the greatest stage in jump racing, as a protest against John Magnier.

Irish racing tycoon Magnier is in dispute with Sir Alex Ferguson and protest groups loyal to the United manager are planning a major demonstration. Magnier and his wife Sue had hoped to see their son JP ride Rhinestone Cowboy in the Champion Hurdle on the opening day of the meeting but may now reconsider whether to attend the Festival.

Cheltenham MD Edward Gillespie has received a formal request to stage a demonstration during next month's Festival, while a report in today's Racing Post suggests that United fans will cause 'huge embarrassment' during racing if permission to demonstrate is denied.

Sean Murphy, a former stable groom who has recently set up United 4 Action, told the Post that his group are well on the way to acquiring 250 tickets for Gold Cup day on 18 March.

He said: 'We want to get the message across to Magnier and J P McManus that we want them to sell their shares in United and give the club back to the fans, because we don't want them.

'I would like the protest to be in the winner's enclosure between races, but I wouldn't mind if it was in one of the car parks. If the racecourse doesn't give us permission we will revert to Plan B. I'm not going to say where or when that will be, but it will cause huge embarrassment.'