SIR ALEX FERGUSON has told Dan Skelton: It’s not a crime to be second to Willie Mullins.
The Manchester United legend said loser Skelton should be proud of his achievements despite hitting the crossbar in the championship race.
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The trainer’s hopes of a first title ended in heartbreak when Mullins blew him out of the water in the final month of the season.
And the Closutton king bagged a Sandown treble on Saturday to come from £70,000 down on the last day of the season to win by nearly £200,000.
Skelton led every day of the season but the last and Ferguson said: “Willie has been superb for years and for Dan it is not a crime to be second to him. It is an achievement in itself.
“Willie has been the best trainer of the last 10 years but the competition is there from Dan and that is an amazing achievement.
“It’s a similar situation to me in football.
“I had many of these seasons with Manchester United and I lost two titles on goal difference on the last day.
“I was second seven times but then five of those times won the title the next year.
“Dan should just be proud of the season he has had and do what I did and keep building a better and stronger team.
“In most other years the prize-money he won would have been enough to win the title.
“There were times when I won enough points to win a title in most years but ended second so I know how he feels.
“He must do what I used to do – dust himself down and go again.”