Fergie has the Irish on song One-legged Scot gallops into Cheltenham history books

Undeterred, he turned to training horses at Newmarket, also riding them to hounds with his old friend Dick Hern, former trainer to the Queen.

He moved to Ireland with his wife in 1967 to be near his mother, Lady Carton de Wiart. She is still living next door and, at 92, drives a car.

Imperial Call is owned by Lisseian Farms Limited, and the company was #99,130 richer last night.

As Fergie’s charge swept to victory under young rider Conor O’Dwyer, the veteran trainer showed little emotion. “I wasn’t entirely surprised – the horse has been improving every day.

“I haven’t been to Cheltenham for 30 years and this is the only way to come back. Nowadays I consider myself to be an adopted Irishman, but I am proud of my Scottish roots.

“There could be rather a big party in the Angler’s Rest tomorrow.” Fergie will be in the thick of it.

Imperial Call’s victory was a stunning reverse for the connections of 11-8 favourite, One Man, trained by Gordon Richards and ridden by Richard Dunwoody. The horse appeared to be going well throughout and came to challenge Imperial Call three out.

There was just no petrol in One Man’s tank and he faded into sixth place. Rough Quest, under Mick Fitzgerald, came through for second and Couldnt Be Better took third.

Afterwards, trainer Richards announced he was sending One Man for a private drug test. “There must be something to blame, that was simply not a true run.”

Owner John Hales felt the eclipse of the dashing grey was probably more due to Cheltenham’s testing course. “It must be a factor this week when so many great horses – Alderbrook, Sound Man, Viking Flagship, Mr Mulligan, and One Man – have been beaten.”

There was controversy in the other major event, the Daily Express Triumph Hurdle. The winner was quite clear – Paddy’s Return, a 10-1 chance trained by Ferdy Murphy at Middleham and piloted by Dunwoody was four lengths ahead on the line from Magical Lady and Charlie Swan.

However, the stewards launched an immediate enquiry into Swan’s riding, who was accused of bringing down Embellished under Paul Carberry. After a lengthy hearing, Magical Lady was disqualified and Swan given a six-day ban, though he will be able to ride in the Grand National.

“I was travelling great the whole way but then the ground was taken off me from both sides,” said Carberry. “Carl Llewellyn (rider of original third Mistinguett) took my ground and pushed me into the back of Charlie, where I clipped the heels of his horse and came down. In my opinion I would have won.”

Maybe, but I thought it was a harsh decision. When gambler J P McManus’ Elegant Lord won the Christies Foxhunter Challenge Cup, it was the first successful favourite in three days. Trained by Edna Bolger, it was also the seventh Irish success this week.

Another Irishman had cause to celebrate. In the Grand Annual, Tony McCoy, another of the favourite sons of Erin, brought home Kibreet in fine style, recording his first Festival winner.

“Bring on the English at Twickeham,” was the cry as the Green Machine moves on towards St Patrick’s Day.

q RICHARD Johnson picked up his second whip ban of the Festival and will miss the Grand National meeting. The conditional was adjudged to have used his whip with unreasonable frequency on Air Shot, runner-up in the Cathcart Cup, and was banned for four days (March 27-30).

Nicholson, who had no winners at the Festival, said: “It’s not surprising there are no sportsmen left in this country. I’ve brought a man on with flair and they don’t like flair. He misses Aintree after having ridden the race of his life.”

Johnson had been banned for four days on Wednesday after having partnered Mr Mulligan into second place in the Sun Alliance Chase. David Bridgwater also was banned for two days for improper use of the whip on Cyborgo.