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LAVELLE'S GRAND PLANS

Emma Lavelle’s Grand National hope Junction Fourteen set for one more run before heading to Aintree

Junction Fourteen wins at Sandown racecourse

EMMA LAVELLE is lining up one more run for her Grand National hopeful Junction Fourteen before Aintree's showpiece event.

Lavelle has indicated either the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster, the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival or a trip to Kelso as a prep run for her eight-year-old.

Junction Fourteen ran a race full of promise at Ascot on his last start, and Lavelle believes he has all the right attributes to go well in the National.

 Lavelle believes Junction Fourteen has what it takes to compete in the National
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Lavelle believes Junction Fourteen has what it takes to compete in the NationalCredit: Getty Images

Junction Fourteen was allotted 10st 6lb at the official Grand National weights launch in London on Tuesday.

Lavelle said: "It's a perfect weight for him. It's been very much our plan to go to Aintree since Ascot. He doesn't want really soft ground, so he has had a winter holiday.

"For the National now you don't just want a plodder, you need something with a bit of pace, which he has at that level. Jumping has been his strong point and while he is not very big, he does have springs in his feet.

"The plan is to give him one race before Aintree. If he is ready then ideally I would like to go to Doncaster for the Grimthorpe, but if I think he could do with another 10 days then he will go for the Ultima at Cheltenham.

 Shotgun Paddy is on track for the Eider Chase
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Shotgun Paddy is on track for the Eider ChaseCredit: PA

"Another option is Kelso on March 4 (Premier Chase) but he is more likely to get the better ground at Doncaster.

"He just needs to get that freshness out of him and get a good run under his belt."

Lavelle reports Shotgun Paddy to be on course for a third crack at the Betfred Eider Chase at Newcastle.

After finding only one too good in the extended four-mile contest 12 months ago, Lavelle is hoping the 10-year-old can go one better on this occasion from a 7lb lower mark.

Although without a win to his name since capturing the Classic Chase in 2014, the Axom-owned gelding finished a respectable third in the Grade Three prize at Warwick last month.

Lavelle said: "He is slow and steady and he will head for the Eider Chase now. That is very much the plan.

"He ran very well at Warwick and the bit extra distance at Newcastle will help. He has been a cracking boy for us and has done incredibly well for the yard and this is very much up his street.

"Hopefully something running off a low weight won't do us this year. He is 7lb lower than last year so that is a positive as far as that is concerned."

The Ogbourne Maizey handler plans to give Leicester winner Full Irish a step up in class at Sandown.

She added: "It's always been the plan to go for the EBF Final at Sandown and that's what we are aiming for. He should have a nice weight for that.

"The only thing he would not want is the ground to be too quick. He is a proper horse and he did it well on very soft ground at Leicester. It is all about going chasing with him next season, though."

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