Young Kenny recaptured his form in spectacular style and set up the possibility of a £100,000 bonus for connections when landing the Singer & Friedlander National Trial (A Handicap Steeplechase) at Uttoxeter today.
Having seen his charge well beaten in Newbury's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup and in the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow, his only outings so far this term, trainer Peter Beaumont knew this was the acid test if Young Kenny were to hold on to his prominent place in the Martell Grand National market.
Not only did he justify that ranking, the Ardross gelding leapt to the top of the betting with Ladbrokes quoting him the 10-1 favourite for the Aintree spectacular.
And no wonder given the style of this success.
While there are no doubts over his honesty, Young Kenny does need some cajoling throughout his races and sure enough, stand-in jockey Russ Garritty, who replaced the injured Brendan Powell, was having to niggle at his charge over a mile from the finish.
At that point Young Kenny was engaged in battle with Edmond but there were another couple of rivals looming in the shape of the latter's stablemate Step On Eyre and Tullymurry Toff.
By the time the runners has crossed the fourth-last fence, Step On Eyre, travelling smoothly on the inside, looked the most likely winner to those in the packed stands but Garritty and his brave mount had other ideas.
With the jockey pushing for all he was worth, the 8-1 chance responded in positive fashion to lead over the second-last and was not headed again.
Edmond, the 15-8 favourite, once again ran on bravely but Young Kenny was kept up to his work to record a three-and-a-half-length verdict, Tullymurry Toff staying on for third.
"Put that down to Brendan, Denis Grattan and the horse, not me," said a modest but jubilant Garritty after dismounting from the winner.
"He's a brave horse and keeps pulling out more but Brendan told me he would."
Beaumont is still mystified by Young Kenny's poor Chepstow showing and admitted he hadn't been too hard on his charge since.
"He was just never happy there and I could find nothing wrong with him after the race," he said.
"I've been quite easy with him since and didn't know if I'd got to the bottom of him today."
The large bonus for winning this race, returning in five weeks to win the Midlands Grand National and finishing in the first four in the Liverpool marathon in April is now within the grasp of Young Kenny's owner Gareth Read.
"It is worth considering," he said.
"However, he needs his ground and we are also considering the De Vere Chase at Haydock in three weeks as his next target.
"Remember, if the ground went against him there is no guarantee he will go for the Grand National. He has got to have cut in the ground."
Another consideration is a trip to the Festival for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup but Beaumont warned: "It would have to be a bog for that, or half a bog at least."
Edmond's jockey Andrew Thornton offered no excuses for the defeat of his mount. "He's done nothing wrong," said the jockey. "Although it was soft here it was not as soft as Chepstow."
