MONBEG DUDE could have his prep run for the Crabbie’s Grand National at Doncaster in two weeks’ time after a minor setback ruled him out of the Betfred Grand National Trial at Haydock on Saturday.

The William Hill Grimthorpe Handicap Chase on March 1 is one of the races trainer Michael Scudamore will now consider for last season’s Coral Welsh National hero.

‘‘I’m gutted really. He just didn’t scope 100 per cent right this morning. The decision was taken out of our hands.

The way he scoped he couldn’t run,’’ said Scudamore of the nine-year-old, whose owners include former rugby union international Mike Tindall, husband of the Queen’s granddaughter, Zara Phillips.

‘‘We were all looking forward to going on Saturday. It had been his target for some time. It’s a huge disappointment for all of us, but it’s nothing serious and he’ll have a week or so on antibiotics and he’ll be fine.

‘‘We’ll have to have a sit down as a group and decide where we head next.

‘‘It’s disappointing but it’s not Aintree in April and there are other options we can look at. Ideally we’d like to stick to chasing. We’ll look at the Grimthorpe at Doncaster if he’s recovered in time. We’ll have to have a look. There are lots of options. We’ll just have to see how he is and take it from there.

‘‘Doncaster would be one of the favourites at the moment.’’