Paul Carberry© Photo Healy Racing
Paul Carberry landed the Coral Welsh National for the first time when giving Monbeg Dude (10/1) a trademark ice cool ride to take the Chepstow marathon.
The Michael Scudamore trained eight-year-old was held-up in rear for the majority of the extended three miles and five furlong contest by Carberry, who was booked for the ride after Jamie Moore was unable to take the mount due to commitments elsewhere.
In contrast favourite Teaforthree was up with the pace throughout but looked booked for third turning in as Triggerman and Giles Cross still appeared to be going well.
However, they had been racing from some way out and unfortunately Giles Cross went wrong and was pulled up.
Monbeg Dude was still around 10 lengths down on the leading pair in the straight with Carberry motionless in the saddle but the experienced pilot didn't panic and produced his mount with perfect timing.
The well-backed 11/4 favourite Teaforthree tried hard to battle back under Tony McCoy having been joined at the last but the concession of 16lbs to his rival proved too much as he succumbed by just half a length.
It was 11 lengths back to Triggerman (50/1) in third with Arbor Supreme (33/1) in fourth. The Paul Gilligan-trained Jadanli weakened entering the straight and was pulled up before two out.
Carberry said: "Tom Scudamore said to me I'd love him and to ride him like a non-trier and to just drop him in. I took a while to get the keenness out of him, then he started jumping well.
"When I pulled him out I knew I had a good chance with four or five fences left. In fairness I probably got there a bit soon but he kept going to the line, he gave me a great spin.
"It's my second ride for Michael, I got the call on Thursday. I haven't had the opportunity to win this so it was about time I took it. This is great.
"I thought we were going a bit slow but the rest were off the bridle."
Scudamore said: "We only knew on Thursday that Paul was going to ride him as that was when we heard Jamie Moore had to go to Sandown.
"There was a question of where we would go after he won at Cheltenham, my dad (Peter Scudamore) and all the owners wanted to come here, but I wanted to go back to Cheltenham on New Year's Day as I thought this might be too big an ask for the horse.
"It was an interesting discussion but dad said we were going to the Welsh National, that there was only one place to go and obviously I'm delighted we did."
The winner was given a quote of 33/1 to enjoy further National success at Aintree in April but Sky Bet were more impressed with Teaforthree who was priced at just 16/1 for Aintree glory.
