Zara Phillips enlisted to improve Welsh National winner’s jumping

Olympic silver medal winning eventer Zara Phillips has been set a new challenge — to work on Welsh Grand National winner Monbeg Dude’s jumping.

The eight-year-old gelding, ridden by Paul Carberry, won the Welsh Grand National on Saturday (5 January) in a tightly fought battle to the line with Teaforthree and AP McCoy.

Trained by Michael Scudamore, whose father Peter and grandfather Micheal both won the race as jockeys, Monbeg Dude was bought at auction by four “tipsy” rugby players — including Zara’s husband Mike Tindall.

But despite the win, the horse made several jumping errors during the race at Chepstow, and will now be under Zara Phillips’ watchful eye for a couple of weeks to improve his style.

“Dad rang afterwards and said horses don’t make as many mistakes as he did and win races like that — he must be good, but get his jumping sorted,” said Michael.

Monbeg Dude will not be aimed at the Grand National — he is to have a short break before going to Zara’s, as the rugby players reckoned it would be “cheaper than Yogi Breisner”.

For the full Welsh National report, don’t miss H&H’s 10 January issue

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