Zara Tindall 'annoyed' after Mike made spontaneous £12,000 purchase after a 'few beers'

Wales Online

15-07-2025

Zara Tindall 'annoyed' after Mike made spontaneous £12,000 purchase after a 'few beers'
Zara Tindall has opened up about the moment she was left 'so annoyed' with her husband Mike after he made a spontaneous £12,000 purchase after a few beers
Zara Tindall was 'annoyed' after husband Mike made a £12k purchase on a whim
(Image: UK Press via Getty Images )
Zara Tindall couldn't hide her frustration when her husband Mike made an impulsive £12,000 purchase at a Cheltenham Racecourse sales event after "a few beers". Zara and Mike were attending a sales night when the former England rugby captain decided to bid on the last horse of the evening.
The 44-year-old Royal shared with Closer that horses were being auctioned and it was only in the final moments that Mike raised his hand. Zara recounted: "He'd had a few beers. It was the last lot of the night, Mikey put his hand up and that was it. He was left buying this horse for £12,000."
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Despite her initial annoyance, the situation turned out favourably as Mike involved three friends in the ownership and the horse, Monbeg Dude, triumphed in the Welsh Grand National and secured third place in the Grand National. Zara expressed her irritation: "Annoyingly, it did not backfire. He got three mates involved and the horse ended up winning the Welsh Grand National and came third in the Grand National. I was so annoyed."
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Monbeg Dude, co-owned by Mike, James Simpson-Daniel, and Nicky Robinson, and trained by Michael Scudamore, became a celebrated steeplechaser. Unfortunately, the horse had to retire at age 10 due to an injury sustained during the Grand National in 2016.
Following its retirement, Monbeg Dude took up residence with Mike and Zara, an Olympic silver medallist, at Gatcombe Park. This Gloucestershire estate is not only home to the Tindalls but also to Princess Anne and Sir Timothy Laurence, reports Gloucestershire Live.
Mike and Zara were at Cheltenham at the time
(Image: Max Mumby/Indigo, Getty Images )
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Scudamore expressed "mixed feelings" about the horse's premature retirement from racing, noting that although it was "sad" to see him retire, it was also "nice to see him go out in one piece".
Talking to BBC Sport, he commented: "It's great to see him going to a happy retirement but he will certainly leave a big hole in the yard. We've had some great days with him and the thing about him was that he wasn't bred to be a superstar."
Mike Tindall, left, with Monbeg Dude, horse trainer Michael Scudamore, centre, and James Simpson-Daniel, right.
(Image:)
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Scudamore remarked on how Monbeg Dude "didn't cost a lot of money" and applauded the horse as a "tough performer".
Despite thinking the horse could have returned to fitness for racing, he was concerned that his age would make a comeback "not be fair".
Monbeg Dude settled into retirement at Gatcombe Park alongside Zara's own horse Toytown, who passed away in 2017. Zara and Toytown had been slated to compete in the Olympic Games in both 2004 and 2008 but were precluded by injury.
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Monbeg Dude being ridden by AP McCoy Grand National Trial in 2015. Ridden by Liam Treadwell, he went on to finish third at the main event
(Image: Nigel French/PA Wire )
Nevertheless, Zara triumphed at the London 2012 Olympics, clinching a silver medal in Team Eventing, emulating her mother Anne, who also competed in eventing at the Olympics.
Anne placed 24th individually in the 1976 games, but Great Britain had to withdraw from the team event; while Zara's father, Mark Philips, secured gold at the 1972 Munich games.