Christian Williams eyeing 'special' return for Kitty's Light at local track Chepstow en route to Grand National

Kitty's Light will start on the path back to the Grand National at Chepstow this weekend and trainer Christian Williams feels getting a win ahead of Aintree could be crucial in securing his place in the race in April.

The eight-year-old sneaked in as final runner of 34 in the world's most famous chase last season and ran a stormer, jumping the last in contention before fading into fifth. He was dropped 1lb for that and again after he finished ninth in the bet365 Gold Cup two weeks later.

It leaves Williams feeling Saturday's Native River Handicap Chase (4.35), in which he finished a well-beaten sixth of seven when returning in it two seasons ago, could be important for ambitions this season.

"We're looking forward to it," Williams said. "He's had a great summer and is looking well – we're pleased with him.

"Aintree is the plan, he ran well in the race last season and led over the last so it would be the obvious target. If it didn't slot into place then it would be the Scottish National or the bet365 Gold Cup.

"We spent a long time last year as number 35 on the list and we dropped a few pounds after that. I'm not quite sure on the maths but it's touch and go at the moment. Last year he looked the best handicapped of the British runners so if we can win a nice race before then that would get him in."

The Welsh trainer added: "To do it at Chepstow would be special with it being a local track and with my family there. Then we'd just train him for the National and it would be wonderful to get to Aintree with him again."

Christian Williams: gearing up for another Grand National bid in 2025Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Williams will also field a runner in Friday's Jump Jockeys Derby, a Flat race aimed to raise money for Welsh children's cancer charity Latch. Williams' daughter Betsy was diagnosed with leukemia last year.

"I'm thankful to all the people who organise it as it's great," he added. "I think we'll run Five Star Getaway, who missed last season. He'd be a nice ride for Jack Tudor."

Nemean Lion is among high-profile entries at Ffos Las on Sunday for the Dragonbet Welsh Champion Hurdle (3.55), a race that is being moved back to Chepstow next October to extend the jumps season opener to three days.

The race has undergone a series of changes since being switched to Britain's newest racecourse after its 2009 opening, including a schedule switch from February to October.

It will retain the same Sunday slot in the calendar at Chepstow and, unlike the other two days, the card has been upgraded to Premier meeting status in 2025.

Phil Bell, regional director for Chepstow and Ffos Las's parent company Arc, said: "The Unibet jumps season opener has proved popular with owners and trainers and has also been well received by our customers as the start of the winter campaign. Last year two Cheltenham Festival winners – Unexpected Party and Chianti Classico – made their seasonal debuts, which emphasises the quality of the meeting. 

"It feels fitting that the fixture now expands to three days to incorporate the Dragonbet Welsh Champion Hurdle, which in its heyday at Chepstow attracted the likes of Sea Pigeon, Night Nurse and Beech Road.”

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