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Peter Scudamore enjoyed great success during his illustrious career as a jockey in the National Hunt. He won numerous crowns, including the Scottish and Welsh Grand Nationals, although the ultimate prize evaded him. His father Michael Scudamore did win the Grand National at Aintree in 1959 on the back of Oxo, highlighting the winning gene in the family. Tom Scudamore has continued the success, notching a win at the King George VI Chase on Thistlecrack in 2016 and he could be another run with the same horse again this time around.
While Tom is chasing further crowns on the circuit, Peter has tried to remain visible in the sport despite his retirement, helping to develop his own line of horse racing games. It's not quite the fever pitch of the track on race day, but it will keep the excitement alive for the elder Scudamore and players, who are not as fortunate to be involved in the real-life sport on a day-to-day basis. Tom, however, is keeping the family legacy alive with his exploits on the track.
He has titles at Cheltenham Festival to his name along with the King George VI Chase. However, he has a long way to go to match the achievements of his father and grandfather on the circuit, with a lot to live up to. Fortunately for Tom, he has more than enough talent and the right calibre of horses to achieve the feats.
Tom did come close to pulling off a brilliant result in 2012 in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He rode on the 50/1 outsider The Giant Bolster. Scudamore guided his charge through the field and into second place three fences from the finish. He tried to up the ante to put pressure on Synchronised, but the horse did not have the closing speed to beat out his competitor, losing out by two-and-a-quarter lengths. Success evaded him in 2013 at Cheltenham Festival, but Tom would return hungry for further titles in 2014 and would be rewarded with his best haul from the week-long event.
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He rode the French horse Dynaste for David Pipe in the Ryanair Chase. Much like his near-triumph at the Gold Cup, Scudamore started the horse at the back of the field before making a charge through up into third place, two fences from the end of the contest. Dynaste had the edge on his rivals down the stretch, using a surge of speed to claim the victory by two-and-a-half lengths.
Scudamore's best result of his time at Cheltenham was guiding 33/1 outsider Western Warhorse to the Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase crown. The horse looked to be off the pace in fifth three fences from the end of the race, despite making a good start. However, Scudamore managed to re-ignite the charge as Western Warhorse found a second wind and surged into the lead down the final straight beating out the favourite Champagne Fever by a head.
Tom will likely ride Thistlecrack once again at the King George VI Chase. Two years ago in their triumph, he put forward a dominant ride to secure the crown. However, injuries have limited the horse since his return to the track and it will take something special from horse and jockey for the duo to have success at the race again. Scudamore could do with a flawless performance from his charge to keep the family legacy going.
