Trainer Emma Lavelle has admitted that she will have to wait for a clearer weather forecast before deciding if Shotgun Paddy will race in the Crabbie’s Grand National next month.

The nine-year-old, 41.00 to win the National, comes into the race in good form after two top three finishes in his last few runs.

He finished third at Chepstow in the Welsh National in January, before finishing a fine second to Rocking Blues in the Eider Chase at Newcastle.

Connections are set to bypass the Cheltenham Festival like they did in
2015 but Lavelle has admitted that their plans are far from being confirmed at this stage.

She insists a decision has yet to be made on the next race but the ground will need to be soft for a decent run in the National.

She told Sky Sports: “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 per cent sure whether or not it would be a year too soon. We’ll see.”