Weather to play part in Shotgun Paddy decision

Emma Lavelle will keep a close eye on the long-term weather forecast before making a decision on whether Shotgun Paddy will line up in the Crabbie’s Grand National next month.

Shotgun Paddy was a fine second to Rocking Blues in the Eider Chase at Newcastle last month and was third in the Welsh National at Chepstow prior to that.

A standing dish in long-distance handicap chases, Shotgun Paddy was fourth in the Terry Biddlecombe National Hunt Chase for Amatuer Riders at the Cheltenham Festival in 2014, but bypassed last year’s Festival meeting and it set to do so again.

Lavelle admits she is pondering an Aintree tilt with the nine-year-old.

She said: “I am burying my head in the sand at the moment. No decision has been made.

“He has come out of the Eider incredibly well, but he won’t go to Cheltenham.

“I rarely take a big team to Cheltenham, as I don’t believe in having social runners just to make up the numbers.

“And I won’t run Shotgun Paddy in the National for the same reasons.

“The ground would have to be on the soft side, but the thought of him running with 10st 3lb on his back is extraordinary, because he has never had the chance to run with that sort of (light) weight.

“I’m just not 100% sure whether or not it would be a year too soon. We’ll see.

“If he is absolutely bouncing, it may be that we go to Uttoxeter on Saturday week for the Midlands National instead. It’s too early to make a decision yet.”

Kerry Lee is to give her Grand National hopefuls Mountainous and Bishops Road experience of Aintree-style fences at home ahead of their bid for glory in the world’s greatest steeplechase.

Neither will run again before the Liverpool spectacular, but Lee intends to build National-type obstacles for them to try as part of their preparation.

Both horses have done their trainer proud already by each posting a big-race success in her first season with the licence since she took over the reins from her father, Richard.

Mountainous won the Coral Welsh Grand National for a second time in January, while Bishops Road outlined his Aintree credentials with victory in the Betfred Grand National Trial at Haydock last month in which Mountainous was pulled up.

“It’s all systems go. They won’t run again before the National. We’ll be aiming to keep them both sweet and fresh by enjoying the Herefordshire countryside and the fresh air,” Lee said.

“We’ll look after them at home and we’ll be building several great big Aintree fences.

“Bishops Road was very good at Haydock. He’s gone up 10 lbs for that (to a mark of 154 and runs off 144), so we’ll be looking for something exciting going to Aintree. He’s number 58 in the list now. Mountainous just had an off-day at Haydock.”

Meanwhile, Global healthcare company Randox Health will become the new sponsor of the Grand National at Aintree in 2017, taking over from Crabbie’s.

Crabbie’s association with the world’s greatest steeplechase comes to an end next month in what will be the third running under its banner.

A five-year deal has been agreed with Randox Health, to include all three days of the National Festival.

Dr Peter FitzGerald CBE, founder and managing director of Randox, said: “The Randox Health team is extremely pleased to partner the world’s greatest race.

“The Grand National offers us a major public platform to raise awareness of preventative healthcare and to encourage people to take control of their health and well-being.”

Crabbie’s will continue to sponsor the Grade One Top Novices’ Hurdle, which is run on the Friday of the meeting.