McCoy on Synchronised wins Welsh National

AP McCoy completed the full set of Grand Nationals as he rode Synchronised to victory in the rescheduled Welsh National at Chepstow on Saturday.

Synchronised had been the long-term favourite but was displaced on the day by Maktu, who went off at 9-2.

Maktu took close station to Giles Cross, who made most of the running.

But Matku faded with three to go and Synchronised jumped past Giles Cross - who stayed for second - at the second last to win by almost three lengths.

Synchronised's victory, at 5-1, means McCoy adds the Welsh National to his victories in the Grand National and the Scottish and Irish versions to complete a career clean sweep.

The champion jockey finally ended his Grand National hoodoo when triumphing on Don't Push It in 2010, while he won the Irish National on Butler's Cabin in 2007 and the Scottish equivalent on Belmont King 10 years earlier.

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"I just thought I'd jump off handily and get into a rhythm. They didn't go much of a gallop and I'm glad I rode him as handy as I did," said the victorious jockey.

"This was the ideal race for him, three miles five furlongs round here on soft ground.

"I don't know if he has the scope for the Grand National fences, but he did jump better today than he has ever done.

"It [Aintree] might be an option, but he's not a horse you'd say would love the big fences. He might take to it, but he might not - we've never thought of him as an out-and-out Aintree horse.

"Whether the owner and trainer decide to go that route [Aintree] I don't know, but this was his target, this was his Gold Cup."

The 2010 Sports Personality of the Year winner was content to bide his time around the Chepstow course, knowing the soft conditions were much to Synchronised's liking.

Giles Cross went to the head of the field from the tape, with Maktu always there or thereabouts on the outside.

But as they entered the straight Maktu rapidly fell away and it briefly looked as though Giles Cross might complete a famous pillar to post victory.

However, McCoy had merely been keeping his powder dry on JP McManus's eight-year-old and he came to challenge Giles Cross with two to go.

Harry Skelton's mount had no answer to Synchronised's late surge and McCoy was content to ease off with the line in sight as he won by two and three-quarter lengths.

The race was originally set for 27 December but was postponed because of heavy snow and freezing conditions.

Replay - 2009 Welsh Grand National

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