Currently on general offer at 50/1 with Horse Race Betting for the April marathon, those odds could be significantly reduced if the eight-year-old puts up a good display in Kempton’s Racing Post Chase, a race for which he is currently amongst the market principals. The ex-Irish gelding joined Lavelle from Pat Doyle’s yard after chasing home Casey Jones in a Grade 3 chase at Punchestown in October. After having a few months off to acclimatise to his new surroundings, Kilcrea Castle made a thoroughly pleasing debut for his new connections when finishing a good third at Ascot in January behind The Sawyer.

 

That run suggested to Lavelle that the Grand National was a race that might just suit the gelded son of Windsor Castle, who if encountering soft ground might have a serious chance of getting in the thick of the action off an attractive racing weight of 10st 8lbs.

 

A great deal depends on how Jack Doyle’s mount goes at Kempton. The step up to three miles is expected to suit Kilcrea Castle ideally, and if able to finish in the first four there could be every reason to believe that the progressive youngster will be given the green light to take on the daunting challenge of the Grand National itself.

 

Only two female trainers have won the world’s greatest steeplechase before. Jenny Pitman became the first when Corbiere famously landed the 1983 renewal, and she then repeated the feat with Royal Athlete in 1995. Last year Venetia Williams added her name to that exclusive list when sending out 100/1 betting  chance Mon Mome to cause one of the biggest shocks in the 180-year history of the race.

 

Maybe Emma Lavelle could be next in line to join that exclusive ladies’ club, courtesy of Kilcrea Castle.