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By Billy Blakeman ValueChecker

AP Completes Full Sweep of Nationals on Synchronised
09/01/11

1 Synchronised 5/1
2 Giles Cross 12/1
3 I'moncloudnine 16/1
4 Ballyfitz 8/1
NR: Eric's Charm (FR), Theatre Dance (IRE)
18 ran Distances: 2¾l, 9l, ½l
TIME 7m 53.70s (slow by 27.70s)

The Jonjo O’Neil trained Synchronised helped AP McCoy complete a grand slam of National victories in the re-scheduled, Coral-sponsored, Welsh National at Chepstow on Saturday 8th January. AP now joins Ruby Walsh as the only current rider to have lifted the Nationals of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Synchronised
© Grossick Racing Photography

The sponsors now make Synchronised the 14-1 favourite for the John Smith's Grand National itself with Sky Bet 20-1 but AP warned; "He took a long time to learn how to jump normal fences and he doesn't jump out at me as a typical National horse. He might take to it, he might not. 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."

In third was the selection of the author, I'moncloudnine, whose trainer Neil Mulholland said: "He ran a cracker as the ground was maybe a bit testing today. I'd love to get him to Aintree if I could."

Position	Horse Trainer	Jockey Weight	Starting Price Beaten Distance
1	Synchronised Jonjo O'Neill	A P McCoy 11st 6lbs	5 - 1 Winner
2	Giles Cross V R A Dartnall	Harry Skelton 10st 2lbs	12 - 1 2 3/4 lengths
3	I'moncloudnine N P Mulholland	D C Costello 10st 3lbs	16 - 1 9 lengths
4	Ballyfitz N A Twiston-Davies	David England 10st 4lbs	8 - 1 1/2 length
5	Maktu P G Murphy	Michael Murphy 10st 6lbs	9 - 2 11 lengths
6	Watamu Bay P F Nicholls	Mr R Mahon 11st 3lbs	8 - 1 Head
7	Silver By Nature Miss Lucinda V Russell	P Buchanan 11st 12lbs	18 - 1 1 1/2 length
8	Ballyfoy Jamie Poulton	Matthew Batchelor 10st 6lbs	20 - 1 Neck
9	Exmoor Ranger V R A Dartnall	Denis O'Regan 11st 1lbs	16 - 1 3 1/2 lengths
10	Dashing George Dr R D P Newland	L Treadwell 10st 0lbs	33 - 1 2 1/4 lengths
11	Flight Leader C L Tizzard	A Coleman 10st 0lbs	50 - 1 1 length
PulledUp	Dream Alliance P J Hobbs	T J O'Brien 11st 7lbs	28 - 1
PulledUp	Arbor Supreme W P Mullins	R P McLernon 10st 13lbs	16 - 1
Refused	Dance Island B I Case	C Poste 10st 7lbs	10 - 1
PulledUp	Royal Rosa J Howard Johnson	B Hughes 10st 2lbs	25 - 1
PulledUp	Magic Sky M F Harris	Jake Greenall 10st 2lbs	28 - 1
Fell	Bench Warrent C J Mann	Peter Toole 10st 0lbs	20 - 1
PulledUp	Old Benny A King	W Hutchinson 10st 0lbs	14 - 1
NonRunner	Eric's Charm O Sherwood	2nd Preference 11st 0lbs	-
NonRunner	Theatre Dance D W P Arbuthnot	T J Murphy 10st 0lbs	-

Maktu
© racing-images.co.uk

HAYDOCK NEXT FOR 'FRESH' MAKTU

Maktu is set to bid for redemption in the Peter Marsh Chase following his defeat as favourite in the Coral Welsh National.

Pat Murphy's nine-year-old was sent off the 9-2 market leader for the Chepstow marathon but after racing keenly early on, he faded out of the finish to be fifth.

Murphy is now eyeing a swift return for his lightly-raced inmate, and Haydock on January 22 is on the agenda.

"He's come out of Saturday's race in good form and although I've still to speak to the owners, I think we will enter him for the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock," said Murphy.

"He was just a bit too fresh and well. That was the problem with having just one run before as he missed a race at Chepstow on December 4 and I really needed it for him.

"In the short term, we will look at the Peter Marsh for him and then probably enter him for the totesport.com National Trial at Haydock next month (February 19)."

Despite Maktu featuring among the leading stayers this term, Murphy has no plans to head to Aintree this year, although a crack at the John Smith's Grand National is on the cards for 2012.

He added: "The long-term plan would be to go back for the Welsh National again in December, but Aintree isn't on the agenda until 2012, not 2011."