A Salford business mogul who owns horses with Sir Alex Ferguson has had a surprise winner on Grand National day at Aintree racecourse with Wade Out.
Wade Out powered to a shock 18-1 victory for Eccles-born manpower services company owner Ged Mason and the legendary Manchester United manager in the second race on the final day of the festival in Liverpool.
The 7-year-old gelding cruised through the race under jockey Gavin Sheehan and pulled clear after the final flight to win the William Hill handicap hurdle by eight and a half lengths.
Sheehan, who is back riding after a ban ruled him out of the opening days of the meeting, told ITV Racing, after riding Wade Out to victory: “That’s a nice way to come back. They were a long two weeks, but I’ve come back fresh. He travelled like a dream and I couldn’t pull him up at the end.
“He jumped great and I enjoyed everything that was happening; it was smooth. Anytime I wanted him, he was there underneath me.”
Wade Out readily lands the spoils at Aintree 👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/5vyQnxo3jy
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 11, 2026
The long-priced winner capped a mixed week at the festival for Ged Mason’s star-studded syndicate as front-running Regent’s Stroll finished second in the Grade 1 Mildmay Novices’ Chase.
Earlier at the festival, Mason-runner L’Eau du Sud was pulled up before the second-to-last fence in the JCB Melling Chase and Maestro Conti failed to replicate his second-place finish at the Cheltenham Festival, briefly hitting the front three out before fading late on as Mange Tout triumphed.
Mason, who went to St Patrick’s High School in Eccles before taking over recruitment firm Morson Group, which his father Gerry founded, was reported to be worth an eye-watering £190 million in the 2022 Sunday Times rich list.
In March, he told Salford Now about the company’s continued ties to Salford.
“I was born in Eccles and went to St Patrick’s High School and our first office was in the bank chambers opposite the town hall. We’re still here today and employ nearly 2,000 people now.
“Salford is my heart, I’ve spent most of my days there and the community is very special to me,” he said.
Unfortunately for punters looking to back a horse with a Salford connection in the 2026 Grand National, Mason’s syndicate don’t have a runner among the 34 horses that will go to post at 4pm.
With less than an hour to go until the big race, here’s how the market stands:
7-1 – I Am Maximus & Panic Attack
8-1 – Grangeclare West
17/2 – Jagwar
9-1 Johnnywho
12-1 – Monty’s Star
16-1 – Iroko & Oscars Brother
20-1 – Captain Cody & Gorgeous Tom
22-1 bar.
