McCoy completes set of National wins

Racing:Tony McCoy completed the full set of National successes by guiding Synchronised to victory in the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow. The champion jockey finally ended his Grand National hoodoo when triumphing on Don't Push It last April, while he won the Irish National on Butler's Cabin in 2007 and the Scottish equivalent on Belmont King 10 years earlier.

Jonjo O'Neill's Synchronised (5-1) was always travelling like he would take a hand in the finish and came to claim long-time leader Giles Cross at the second-last, despite a less than fluent leap.

A determined Giles Cross stuck with his challenger until the final obstacle, but Synchronised asserted afterwards and came home two and three-quarter lengths ahead.

I'moncloudnine claimed third, with Ballyfitz fourth. Favourite Maktu travelled with zest towards the head of affairs, but was a spent force in the home straight having been too keen for his own good. Sky Bet introduced the winner at 20-1 for the John Smith's Grand National.

McCoy, who punched the air for the cameras on returning to the winner's enclosure, said: "The race went well for him. He's a very sticky horse to jump and I set off closer to the pace than I was thinking about.

"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.

"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."

McCoy added: "I've won the English, Irish and now Welsh Nationals now for Jonjo and JP (McManus, owner), so that's very special.

"After he won the Midlands National Jonjo was always preparing him for this race, he loves that really testing ground. 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.

"We'll see, it's brilliant for Jonjo and JP."