MONBEG Dude is reportedly in tip-top shape as he bids to reclaim his Coral Welsh Grand National crown at Chepstow on Saturday.

Michael Scudamore's stable star had his finest hour in this race in the 2012-13 season, but he was not asked to defend his title last Christmas.

The marathon handicap chase is back on the agenda this time and Monbeg Dude staked his claim with a mighty run in the Hennessy at Newbury, when he made eyecatching late progress to take fourth place behind Many Clouds.

"He's come out of his last race in great form," said the Ross-on-Wye trainer.

"We thought he might have been a bit tired, but he was jumping and kicking and everything has gone smoothly since.

"He had an easy 10 days after the race and then slipped back into his normal routine."

Scudamore pointed towards another crack at the Monmouthshire showpiece as having been the major aim this season for the nine-year-old, whose owners include Mike Tindall, husband of the Queen's granddaughter, Zara Phillips.

He told At The Races: "The Welsh National was always pretty much the plan. As a group of owners, we sat down at the beginning of the year and all roads led to this day, really.

"He's won the race before and while he's carrying a lot more weight, he's going there in very good form, so we're hopeful."

The Richard Lee-trained Mountainous warmed up for back-to-back victories in the Welsh National with a spin in a three-mile handicap chase on this course three weeks ago.

"I think he may have even just improved a pound, maybe, so we're very happy with him," said Lee's daughter and assistant, Kerry.

Shotgun Paddy attempts to emulate Carvill's Hill in 1991 by carrying 11st 12lb to victory.

Emma Lavelle could not have the top weight in better shape following his pipe-opener over hurdles at Newbury four weeks ago.

The Andover handler said: "It's always a little bit disappointing to be carrying top weight in a race like this over that kind of trip on soft ground.

"But that's the handicapper telling us he's the best horse in the race and I'm hoping he's still fairly unexposed.

"He's in great order. He's straightforward, but he'll never blow you away on the gallops.

"He's not the quickest in the world, but he'll keep going at his own pace from bottom to top.

"We got a great pipe-opener into him at Newbury over hurdles. I didn't want to affect his chase mark.

"This has been the plan since he won his first novice hurdle at Chepstow two seasons ago. He's won over hurdles and over fences at Chepstow.

"It was always going to be the ideal plan for him because the ground is always on the slow side, which is what he needs, and at a trip and a proper test for his jumping."

Dan Downie, racing manager for owners the Axom syndicate, added: "He meets Midnight Prayer on worse terms than at Cheltenham when he just got beat, but we only ran him that day as it was four miles and we thought we might get away with it.

"The ground was too quick, it meant he had to rush his jumping, he was off the bridle a mile out yet still nearly won. It was a hell of an effort.

"He's the sort of horse who everyone knows what he is, he's not quick or flashy but hopefully that is a major plus in this race, you don't want something that pulls for the first mile or clears fences by two foot."

One In A Milan is fancied to improve on his fourth place last season and showed he was approaching peak form when third in a handicap hurdle over three miles at the Welsh venue.

That was his first run since he fell at Becher's second time round, when in the process of going well in the Crabbie's Grand National at Aintree in April.

Trainer Evan Williams said: "He was running a very good race in the Grand National and he will have a visor on again in the Welsh National.

"It seemed to help him in the Grand National, it sharpened him up.

"His form away from the Nationals is very moderate, but he is in good form and there are plenty in there with a good each-way chance.

"You need a lot of luck in running."

Philip Hobbs feels Gas Line Boy has been harshly treated by the handicapper for an emphatic victory in a three-mile-five-furlong handicap chase at Haydock last month when there were only three finishers.

"The handicapper has put him up 15lb for winning at Haydock and I'm not sure that's right," said the Minehead handler.

"Given his rating now, we have to run in this.

"He beat the second horse a long way who in turn was a long way clear of the third, but I'm not sure they all gave their running. It was very bad ground.

"We'll see who is right."

Hobbs also runs Woodford County at the other end of the handicap.

In contrast to Gas Line Boy, Amigo, who was seventh in the race last season, appears to be on a favourable mark and his trainer David Pipe is expecting a decent run.

"He is a year older now and races as though he appreciates more of a test of stamina these days," the Nicholashayne trainer told www.davidpipe.com.

"He put up a respectable effort over the course when runner up in the Welsh National Trial and could go well come Saturday.

"He has shown he likes Chepstow. He likes cut in the ground and is at the right end of the weights to be competitive."

Nigel Twiston-Davies is hoping Benbens can make up for his mishap in the Becher Chase at Aintree.

"He was travelling nicely when unseating at Aintree," said the Naunton handler.

"He's been fine since then and I've always had Chepstow in mind for him."

Assistant trainer Joe Tizzard feels a liking for Chepstow will stand Handy Andy in good stead.

The eight-year-old turned in a slightly disappointing effort at Sandown earlier this month when he was beaten by Firm Order.

At Chepstow in October, he had finished third to Victors Serenade, when Monbeg Dude was second and Benbens fourth.

"He was a little bit disappointing last time, but he's a horse that loves Chepstow," said Tizzard.

"He gets the trip really well and goes in off a nice racing weight.

"He's got to find a bit, I think, to win it, but there's no reason why he can't."

ends