Make friends with Sir Alex Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson will no doubt hope tomorrow's Aon Chase goes off a few minutes late, since his side will be in the last throes of their lunchtime Manchester derby with City at Old Trafford.

The United manager, who owns the Paul Nicholls-trained What A Friend in conjunction with Ged Mason, will be keen to see whether or not the eight-year-old can enhance his Cheltenham Gold Cup claims in the three-mile chase (2.25pm) at Newbury.

What A Friend landed two Grade One chases last season and hopes were high that he could eventually take over from Kauto Star and Denman and become the leading staying chaser in the champion trainer's Ditcheat yard.

Despite having had a breathing operation in the summer, he was a bitterly disappointing fifth of seven to reigning champion Imperial Commander on his seasonal reappearance in the Lancashire Chase at Haydock in November.

Nicholls said: "He is in good form now and has been working well but you have to say, despite the tacky ground that day, he now has plenty to prove after that last run."

The Nicky Henderson-trained Riverside Theatre, owned by actor James Nesbitt, is the 10-11 favourite with Paddy Power and is 6lb better off on official figures.