CORAL WELSH NATIONAL
Venue: Chepstow Racecourse Date: Saturday, 8 January Race: 1345 GMT
Coverage: Live on BBC TWO & online, BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Wales

McCoy rode Money Order at 2009 Welsh National meeting

Champion jockey Tony McCoy is dreaming of a Welsh double as he hopes to break his Wales hoodoo in emphatic fashion.

McCoy will ride the ante-post favourite Synchronised as the 36-year-old bids to complete his National slam in the Welsh National at Chepstow on Saturday.

McCoy then hopes to mount much-fancied Oscar Whisky in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las on 5 February.

"It'd be nice to win the Welsh National and maybe get a go on Oscar Whisky," said the 2010 Grand National winner.

The 2010 BBC Sports Personality of the Year has won the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Chase and the King George as well as three Champion Hurdles.

McCoy also won the 1997 Scottish Grand National on Belmont King, the 2007 Irish Grand National riding Butler's Cabin before his most memorable journey as he rode Don't Push It to victory at Aintree to win the 2010 Grand National in his 15th attempt.

But the 15-time champion jockey has yet to win a big race in Wales - the only void in an otherwise impeccable career.

McCoy will be aboard Synchronised in Saturday's rescheduled Welsh National as he aims to better his fourth-placed best finish - on board Eudipe as Kendal Cavalier rode to victory in 1998 - at the Chepstow showpiece.

The JP McManus-owned eight-year-old has been ante-post favourite since the betting opened on the back of his win in the Midlands National in March 2010.

Trainer Jonjo O'Neill has concerns about Synchronised's rise in the weights for the £100,000 race but McCoy, who has failed to finish four of his eight Welsh National rides, has added impetus to win in Wales.

"It would be nice to complete the grand slam," McCoy told BBC Radio Wales' Back Page show.

"I've been lucky enough to win all the other big races so having won all of the nationals, then I would like to win the Welsh National.

"It is a very prestigious race in its own right but as a jockey, if you have been lucky enough to win all the other nationals you sure want to add the Welsh one.

"It won't be easy, it's going to be a tough slog but I hopefully have a good chance.

"Chepstow is a nice track, it's a fair track and one of those tracks where the best horse normally wins."

Last year's runner-up Silver By Nature will carry top weight of 11st 12lb in the 20-runner field with his conqueror Dream Alliance next in the list. Then comes Synchronised on 11st 6lb.

Irish National winner Bluesea Cracker, who was third favourite for the race, had earlier been ruled out of the three mile, three furlong event by trainer James Motherway after picking up a knock.

McCoy hopes to conquer at Chepstow's feature race on Saturday before returning to Wales next month in the first Welsh Champion Hurdle at the new Ffos Las track near Llanelli.

Barry Geraghty rode Oscar Whisky to victory over two and a half miles at Cheltenham on New Year's Day but McCoy could get the nod on Nicky Henderson's six-year-old at Ffos Las - who is owned by Ffos Las owner Dai Walters.

"I'd like to ride Oscar Whisky," admitted McCoy.

"He is very good horse and Barry Geraghty ran him at Cheltenham last time out and looks like a horse that could and probably will win the Welsh Champion."

Replay - 2009 Welsh Grand National

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