Welsh glory for cool dude Carberry

Paul Carberry rode a peach of a race to land the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow on the Michael Scudamore-trained Monbeg Dude.

Settled at the back of the field, the 10-1 shot crept into contention on the final circuit but still had plenty to do coming down the straight as the jockey sat motionless.

Hot favourite Teaforthree was making the best of his way home under Tony McCoy in the marathon contest, but Carberry timed his move to perfection and after challenging at the final fence, got the better of a battle up the run-in by half a length. Triggerman stuck on for third.

The winning jockey said: "Tom Scudamore said to me I'd love him, and to ride him like a non-trier, to just drop him in. I took a while to get the keenness out of him, then he started jumping well.

"When I pulled him out I knew I had a good chance with four or five fences left. In fairness I probably got there a bit soon but he kept going to the line, he gave me a great spin.

"It's my second ride for Michael, I got the call on Thursday. I haven't had the opportunity to win this, so it was about time I took it. This is great.

"I thought we were going a bit slow, but the rest were off the bridle."

Scudamore added: "We only knew on Thursday that Paul was going to ride him as that was when we heard Jamie Moore had to go to Sandown.

"There was a question of where we would go after he won at Cheltenham. My dad (Peter Scudamore) and all the owners wanted to come here, but I wanted to go back to Cheltenham on New Year's Day as I thought this might be too big an ask for the horse.

"It was an interesting discussion, but dad said we were going to the Welsh National, that there was only one place to go, and obviously I'm delighted we did."