Tony McCoy rides Money Order (centre) at the 2009 Welsh National meeting

CORAL WELSH NATIONAL
Venue: Chepstow Racecourse Date: Monday, 27 December Race: 1410 GMT
Coverage: Exclusively live on BBC TWO & online, BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Wales

Champion jockey Tony McCoy hopes to complete racing's National Grand Slam and win the Welsh showpiece.

McCoy, the winner of BBC Sports Personality of the Year, could ride favourite Synchronised in Monday's feature race at Chepstow.

The seven-year-old is owned by JP McManus and trained by Jonjo O'Neill - the same as McCoy's winning ride Don't Push It at the 2010 Grand National.

McCoy, 36, said: "I'd like to win a Welsh National."

The 15-time champion jockey has won the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Chase and the King George as well as three Champion Hurdles.

McCoy is the first jockey to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year

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.

Now he is hoping to end his Welsh hoodoo and fill the only void in an otherwise immaculate career.

McCoy has ridden in eight Welsh Nationals - failing to finish in four - and his best finish at the Chepstow showpiece was fourth on board Eudipe as Kendal Cavalier rode to victory in 1998.

McCoy, who finished 10th on The Tother One last year, previously rode the favourite in 2001 but he finished sixth on board Take Control.

But his 2009 ride was his first Welsh National appearance for five years because since joining the O'Neill stable, he has tended to ride at Kempton Park.

I've been lucky enough to win the other Nationals....I'd like to win a Welsh National Champion jockey Tony McCoy

Now, though, the number one jockey wants to end his Welsh hoodoo after finally breaking his Grand National duck.

"I've been lucky enough to win the other Nationals," said McCoy. "But I've not ridden in too many at Chepstow.

Synchronised is the market leader with leading bookmakers for Monday's £100,000 three-and-three quarter-mile race.

A maximum of 20 will line-up for the 1410 GMT at Chepstow - should the meeting beat the freezing weather conditions and snow in Monmouthshire.

Synchronised is one of 32 horses left in the Welsh field while last year's runner-up Silver By Nature is carrying top weight ahead of 2009 winner Dream Alliance and Synchronized.

Local hero Dream Alliance, bred just 30 miles from the Welsh course, and Hills Of Aran, trained by Pembrokeshire handler Keith Goldsworthy, are the home hopes in Welsh racing's showpiece event.

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