Racing: ‘Genius’ Carberry sneaks Welsh National

By PETER ALLISON
Published on 07/01/2013 01:43

The Betfred Grand National Trial at Haydock on 16 February is the next likely target for Saturday’s last-gasp Welsh National winner Monbeg Dude.

Trainer Michael Scudamore hailed jockey Paul Carberry as “a genius” after he pulled off one of the greatest waiting rides in the race’s history, coming from last to first with utmost confidence.

“I think the Grand National Trial at Haydock will be his next race, all being well,” said Scudamore yestreday.

“He’s very well and happy - he got one scrape on a hind leg, but it looks nothing serious - and Haydock would look the natural next step. He’ll get his ground and the trip is what he needs. It looks ideal and it’s a nice prize.

“He’s got his own way of jumping, that’s for sure. If we can brush up on that it will help him further. We’ve got a lovely problem regarding his jockey as Tom (Scudamore), Jamie (Moore) and Paul have all won on him now, so we’ll all sit down and have a talk and see the best option.

“Yesterday wouldn’t have happened if Jamie hadn’t given him such a great ride at Cheltenham, but what can you say about Carberry? The man is a genius. How he had that much confidence is beyond me. I couldn’t see him down the back straight and then I thought he might get a place, but he still hadn’t moved. For a small yard like ours it’s a dream come true and hopefully we can attract some more, and better, horses. We just need the right ammunition.”

Carberry’s mount manfully foiled a plunge on Teaforthree to win this stamina-sapping contest by half a length.

Carberry, at his mercurial best, exuded remarkable restraint to wait until the last before asking his mount to put the race to bed, but the 10-1 winner then launched himself at the fence half a stride early, causing his rider to hang on to the buckle end of the rein.

The mistake, however, did little to impair the momentum of the winner, who kept going to repel the Tony McCoy-ridden Teaforthree, who was backed into 11-4 favouritism.

Scudamore’s grandfather, also Michael, was successful in the 1957 running, while his father Peter rattled off four Welsh National wins in his days as stable jockey to Martin Pipe.

Ruacana provided John Ferguson with a first Grade One win in the coral.co.uk Future Champions Finale Juvenile. He was a fortunate winner, however, as Swnymor had just claimed the lead on the run to the final flight from Megalypos when he took a crashing fall.

Rule The World looks to be another top-class prospect for Mouse Morris after he strolled to a 16-length victory in the Slaney Hurdle at Naas yesterday.

The Willie Mullins-trained Champagne Fever was sent off the 1-4 favourite in anticipation of franking his run behind Jezki in the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse, but Ruby Walsh was sending out distress signals a long way from home and the Cheltenham Bumper winner trailed in a well beaten third. It was later reported that the favourite was suffering from a respiratory tract infection.

There was no such trouble for Rule The World (7-1), who entered the picture for the Neptune Novices’ Hurdle at 12-1 with Stan James.

Morris, who last took the Slaney Hurdle in 2008 with Venalmar, who was subsequently narrowly beaten by Fiveforthree in what is now the Neptune, said: “It’s easy to be a good judge when you have a machine like that. He’s a nice horse and we’ll have to talk to the owners to see where we go – he’s still a big, raw horse.”

At Plumpton, Well Refreshed gave local punters something to shout about with an easy victory in the At The Races Sussex National. Trained by Gary Moore in West Sussex, the nine-year-old, sent off a 6-1 chance under the trainer’s youngest son, Joshua, looks a staying chaser going places. A delighted Moore said: “That was his aim really but if he comes out of that race OK – he usually needs a fair bit of time between races – he could go for the Somerset National at Wincanton, but it might come too soon.”

SELECTIONS

Kempton

1.25 Breakheart

1.55 Easy Life

2.30 Ningara

3.00 Beat The Bell

3.30 Roberto Pegasus

4.00 Sweet Liberta

4.30 Belinsky

Taunton

1.10 Bladoun

1.40 Franklin Roosevelt

2.10 Saphir Du Rhue (nap)

2.40 Cantlow

3.10 Alwaystheoptimist

3.40 Kellystown Lad

4.10 Waywood Princess

Wolverhampton

2.20 Bang Tidy

2.50 Bold Marc

3.20 Spin A Wish

3.50 Rosie’s Lady

4.20 Scribe

4.50 Above The Stars

5.20 Rapscallion Deep

5.50 Dream About You