Sir Alex Ferguson gets a kick out of a tenth Badger Ales triumph for Paul Nicholls

Paul Nicholls landed his tenth Badger Beer Silver Trophy Handicap Chase at Wincanton as Give Me A Copper provided part-owner Sir Alex Ferguson with a famous win.

Ferguson ended up “strangled” and covered in coffee as the nine-year-old chestnut repelled the late challenge of Soupy Soups in an exciting finish to the annual feature.

As the winner crossed the line Nicholls, who is also one of the part-owners, embraced Ferguson, the former Manchester United manager who won 38 trophies during his time at Old Trafford – including 13 Premier League titles.

Ferguson said: “Paul was strangling me! I’m covered in coffee, [but] it was nice to watch – he was produced at the right time between the last two.

“I don’t know what we’ll do with him now. I love winning and that is why we are all in it, the excitement at the end – you can’t beat it.”

He added: “I’m really pleased. We didn’t expect it to be honest, as it was his first run and Paul said he might be a bit fresh, so it’s really nice.

Nicholls also ran Present Man in the race, who had won the previous two renewals under Bryony Frost, but once he relinquished the lead to Rock The Kasbah on the second circuit, his supporters knew their fate.

Rock The Kasbah looked right back to his best and tried stretching the field down the back straight, but Harry Cobden and Give Me A Copper, who has been plagued by injury in recent years, always looked to be travelling comfortably.

There were still a handful in with a chance turning into the straight, with Royal Vacation and Just A Sting holding claims, but in the end is was Soupy Soups who threw down the final challenge.

Soupy Soups was flying after the last, but to his credit, Give Me A Copper had enough left to fend off the lightweight by a neck with Royal Vacation back in third.

Nicholls told Racing TV that the rain before the race had been in Give Me A Copper’s favour and that the key to him is freshness.

He added that the Becher Chase at Aintree could be next on his agenda with the Randox Health Grand National a possible long-term target.

He added: “Everything went right today, Harry gave him a great ride and even managed to save a bit for the finish.

“It’s great to have a winner in the boss’ colours.” Cobden said: “He jumped like a stag the whole way, I really fancied him all week, so I’m delighted.

“He’s got loads of class. He finds it easy in these big handicaps as he travels well. I managed to get a blow into him going down the back. I’m absolutely delighted.”

Nicholls and Cobden also teamed up to take the closing Jaytrack Employee Day Intermediate Open National Hunt Flat Race with Confirmation Bias.