Live 24-Seven - The Wye Valley
Photographs by John Teale Photography
www.johntealephotography.co.uk
Race-day photographs by June Savidge
jsavidge@talktalk.net
Victory with Monbeg Dude at last year’s Welsh Grand National at Chepstow was a milestone for Herefordshire racehorse trainer, Michael Scudamore. Sharon Chilcott discovers that now his sights are set on running him in next year’s Grand National.
There is no doubt in Michael Scudamore’s mind – the horse he and international rugby player chums Mike Tindall, James Simpson-Daniel and Nick Robinson bought by accident is now the star of his yard.
Monbeg Dude, last year’s winner at the Welsh Grand National wasn’t always tipped for success though, and no-one was more surprised than Michael when he ended up with a quarter share in a horse he had never so much as looked at. The former professional rugby player, who played for the Wales U19 team, had visited a horse auction with Gloucester rugby club legend James Simpson-Daniel with no intention of buying – simply to show him behind the scenes.
“I know James from my rugby playing days and he has always been interested in horse racing so I took him along to one of the horse sales they hold after Cheltenham Races to show him another side of racing. We ended up sitting with Mike Tindall and every now and again he would put his hand up as a bit of fun just to start off the bidding. Monbeg Dude was the second last lot of the night. Mike put his hand up to start
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the bidding and ended up being the only bid- der! We had no idea about the horse – the next thing the hammer had gone down and Mike had bought him! James said he had better have a leg and then I felt quite guilty so I said I would have a leg and then we phoned Nick!”
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