July 18th, 2013 - French-bred Katenko could be a contender for the 2014 Grand National this season despite not having much experience in the UK for Venetia Williams.

The seven-year old has had just four outings since his switch from France but has won on his last two starts before a setback ruled him out action following his success at Cheltenham in January in the Grade Three Murphy Group Chase.

Bookmakers have installed Katenko right near the top of the racing betting for the world famous steeplechase in 2014 after some early support for the runner who does have an entry at this stage.

Connections threw their horse into a Listed race in just his second run in England when he finished second to Wyck Hill at Ascot back in December. His first win then came at Sandown not long after in which he followed it up with another victory at Prestbury Park when scoring at odds of 4/1.

If successful in the feature race in April, it will be Williams’ second win in the 4m4f contest. She upset the Grand National odds in 2009 when 100/1 shot Mon Mome prevailed becoming the first to do so at the price since Foinavon’s memorable success in 1967.

She is also just one of three women to train the winner of the race. Jenny Pitman was the first to do so in 1983 with Corbiere. Williams then matched that in 2009 with Mon Mome, while last year Sue Smith added her name into history with Auroras Encore.

Katenko will have to break the trends if he is successful in the 2014 running. Only one eight year old has won the race in the last 20 years which was Bindaree for Nigel Twiston-Davies in 2002. Red Rum also won the Aintree at the age of eight though in the first of his three wins in 1973.