Sir Alex has a 'surprise' horse up his sleeve ahead of the Cheltenham Festival

Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed he is in a 'good position' to snatch up another colossal payday at Cheltenham Festival - and has a 'surprise' runner in his ranks.

The Manchester United legend won close to £1million on Saturday when his horse, Spirit Dancer, landed the Group Two Neom Cup in Saudi Arabia.

Winning big at the racing is becoming a habit for Ferguson, who won £500,000 in Bahrain last year - and also broke a rib in the process.

That was thanks to Spirit Dancer as well, but the Scot claims he has a surprise up his sleeve for Cheltenham.

'I think Hitman will do well,' Ferguson told the Thoroughbred Daily News. 'I just feel that he seems to die in the last couple of fences over three miles, but he's back running over two miles and four furlongs. He might just surprise people.'

Hitman, trained by Paul Nicholls, will be competing in the Ryanair Chase alongside Dan Skelton-trained Protektorat.

The prize fund for winning that is a healthy £211,013.

Meanwhile, L'Eau Du Sud will race in the County Hurdle and will hope to claim first prize, worth £56,270.

Elsewhere, Sonigino will run in the Coral Cup and help to bring the curtains down on the entire Festival, competing in the Martin Pipe Handicap.

Monmiral and Il Ridoto will also take part in the Festival.

Monmiral will look to bring home £56,270 from the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle Il Ridoto will run for a cheque for £67,524 in the Plate Handicap Chase.

In total, provided everything goes Sir Alex's way, he could pocket maximum earnings of £400,000 - not bad for four days' work.

Sir Alex co-owns a host of horses with Ged Mason, his friend and a millionaire businessman.

The Cheltenham Festival starts on March 12 and finishes on March 15.