Family affair for the Scudamores at Welsh Grand National in Chepstow (From Hereford Times)

Family affair for the Scudamores at Welsh Grand National in Chepstow

2:00pm Wednesday 9th January 2013 in Sport By Graham Saveker

TRAINER Michael Scudamore, following in the footsteps of his name-sake grandfather and father Peter, was the toast of Chepstow on Saturday as his Monbeg Dude won the Welsh Grand National.

Michael Scudamore senior rode the winner back in 1957 while multiple champion jockey Peter captured the race four times as a rider.

But Michael junior, training from his base at Bromash near Ross, was scoring his biggest race success to date.

Ridden by top Irish jockey Paul Carberry, Monbeg Dude was at the back of the field for most of the stamina-sapping three-and-three-quarter-mile trip on the heavy ground, but that had been the plan.

Carberry, enjoying his trademark waiting tactics, made his move in the home straight, passing the toiling field over the final five fences and it was only the favourite Teaforthree, partnered by Tony McCoy, that held the lead at the final fence where Monbeg Dude made a mistake.

Carberry rallied his mount and forced him in front in the shadow of the post to win by half-a-length.

Owned by rugby union stars Mike Tindall, Nicky Robinson and James Simpson-Daniel, Scudamore admitted to being reluctant to run his horse initially.

“I wanted to go to Cheltenham on New Year’s Day but Mr Tindall, who is bigger and stronger than me wanted to come here,” he said. “There might have been an interesting discussion if Cheltenham had not been abandoned.”

Flanked by mother Maz and jockey brother Tom, he joked: “It’s nice to get my name on the trophy before (brother) Tom.

“But, to be frank, it’s been a bad year with a lot of horses being taken away but we have shown people today what we can do.”

Carberry, who agreed to come for just the ride earlier in the week, said: “I’d say it would have to be among my best rides.

“To me, it was never in doubt but it was still a long way up that straight.”

l Email sports reports to: sport@herefordtimes.com