Monbeg Dude, the 2013 Welsh Grand National winner, has been retired from racing and is set to enjoy his post-racing days alongside Zara Tindalls’ former top eventer Toytown.
The 11-year-old had returned to training at Michael Scudamore’s Herefordshire yard after 12 months on the sidelines. It was hoped he would make it back to the racecourse during this year’s National Hunt season.
“He picked up a tendon injury after finishing third in the Grand National last year,” Michael told H&H.
“He’d had a year off and we brought him back into training, but it flared up again. We could have given him more time off but at his age, to ask him to come back, would have been unfair on the horse.
“It was a tough decision because he’s been a flag-bearer for the yard, but he doesn’t owe anyone anything,” he added.
“He will be kept active during his retirement and will be in the field with Toytown at Gatcombe Park.”
During his seven-year career on the racecourse, the son of Witness Box not only won the big race at Chepstow but also racked up three Grade Three triumphs at Cheltenham.
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He also produced impressive runs in both the Grand National and the 2014 Hennessy Gold Cup — finishing in the placings both times behind eventual winner Many Clouds.
He was ridden to victory in the Welsh Grand National by Paul Carberry, but was also regularly ridden by Michael’s brother Tom Scudamore.
Owned by a syndicate of four called Oydunow — including his trainer Michael and Zara’s husband Mike Tindall — the gelding will have a home for life at the Gloucestershire estate, Gatcombe Park, where the annual Festival of British Eventing is held.
Toytown, the former world and European eventing champion under Zara, was retired from the sport in 2011. Now aged 23, the popular gelding enjoys hacking around the Gloucestershire countryside and it won’t be long until his new companion joins him.
