Monbeg Dude's connections are considering a tilt at the Coral Welsh National
Monbeg Dude is likely to run in either the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow or The Last Fling Handicap Chase at Haydock.
Last Updated: 09/12/12 3:29pm
Michael Scudamore's seven-year-old looked a promising young stayer in the making when getting the better of Bradley by a neck as a 25-1 shot in the Henrietta Knight Handicap Chase last month.
While the Welsh National is the preferred option, Monbeg Dude is not guaranteed a place in the Chepstow marathon and would probably be out of the handicap.
"He came back and had a quiet week afterwards. We've been building him back up with the intention of hopefully going for the Welsh National in a couple of weeks, if we get in," said Scudamore, who is based at Ross-on-Wye.
"We may struggle so we will also put him in a three-and-a-half-mile chase at Haydock a couple of days after. We will enter him there as a back-up in case we don't get in at Chepstow.
"It's going to be touch and go. We'd be a couple of pounds out of the handicap even if we did get in. There are a few things we have to weigh up, but the trip shouldn't be a problem and the softer the ground, the better for him.
"All being well we'll go for one of those. He won a competitive enough race (at Cheltenham) and a few have come out and run well since. The form looks solid enough.
"He's still quite immature and it was only his fifth start over fences last time. It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if he missed the Welsh National this year.
"There is plenty of time and there are plenty of opportunities for him. We'll take it steady with him and see how we go."