Christian Williams can finally breathe a sigh of relief as his highly regarded horse, Kitty's Light, secured a spot in the prestigious 2024 Randox Grand National.
In a bid to become the first Welsh-trained champion of the race in over a century, Kitty's Light found itself among a group of National contenders anxiously awaiting Monday's confirmation stage.
Eklat De Rire, Chambard and Kitty's Light were among several runners given a rating of 146 for the primary race. However, their official handicap mark was reduced to 145 when the weights were revealed in February. As a result, a random ballot would have been necessary to decide which two of the three would participate in the renowned steeplechase.
Missing from the previous top 34 is the horse called Conflated. This means that the 2022 winner, Noble Yeats, will have the highest weight to carry. Following closely behind is Nassalam, the Welsh Grand National winner trained by Gary Moore. Nassalam will be ridden by Caoilin Quinn, who will be participating in this race for the first time as a leading conditional jockey.
The favorite in the betting is Corach Rambler, who is the defending champion. Trainer Lucinda Russell and jockey Derek Fox are aiming for their third win in the Aintree showpiece. The horse, who finished third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, is hoping to join the prestigious group of back-to-back Grand National winners, which includes legends like Red Rum and Tiger Roll.