This year has provided a Gold Cup victory for the Queen and now 2014 holds the tantalising prospect of a royal winner of sorts in the Grand National after Monbeg Dude’s encouraging return to form at Cheltenham.
Zara Phillips is, of course, far more than simply Her Majesty’s granddaughter as an Olympic medal-winning eventer and a former BBC Sports Personality of the Year and her expertise has come in handy at sharpening Monbeg Dude’s jumping technique.
Owned among others by Phillips’ husband, former England rugby captain Mike Tindall, last season’s Welsh National hero was striking for the first time since that occasion in the Majordomo Hospitality Handicap Chase.
Tom Scudamore, clearly thrilled to steer home a major winner for his trainer-brother, Michael, rode the 6-1 shot rather like Paul Carberry did in the Chepstow marathon as he collared the strong-travelling 7-2 favourite Theatre Guide at the last and scored by a length and a quarter.
“I’ve been very lucky to ride for some very nice people and ride some very good horses, but this is up there with everything. I can’t describe it,” said Tom Scudamore
“I’m so pleased for him (Michael). Three months ago he was really struggling, but all credit to him, he’s turned it around.
“To ride a winner at Cheltenham, to repay my brother, there’s nothing else like it.”
Phillips, who is expecting her first child, was modest.
“No credit should be given to me at all,” she said.
“I’m only doing a small amount, Scu is doing the hard work.
“We did a bit of pole work, got him to move his feet a bit quicker and think about it a bit more.
“He is a good jumper and you can see he is so much more efficient over his fences. It makes the whole race easier for him.”
