Edward Mitchell reports his John Smith’s Grand National hope Garvivonnian to be in fine form ahead of Saturday’s big race at Aintree.

HEDGEHUNTER is a general 4-1 favourite with the English firms, although Irish bookmakers Cashmans and Paddy Power buck the trend with a 5-1 offer, to land back-to-back runnings of the John Smith’s Grand National after heading the list of 84 horses left in the Aintree spectacular at the five-day confirmation stage.

RICHARD JOHNSON is set to ride either It Takes Time or Therealbandit in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday week.

Richard Johnson is set to ride either It Takes Time or Therealbandit in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on Saturday week.

ANTE-POST favourite Clan Royal and Racing Post Chase hero Innox are among 122 contenders remaining after the first forfeit stage for the John Smith’s Grand National.

Ante-post favourite Clan Royal and Racing Post Chase hero Innox are among 122 contenders remaining after the first forfeit stage for the John Smith’s Grand National.

CORAL have cut Calling Brave from 16-1 to 12-1 for the Racing Post Chase on Saturday after Nicky Henderson’s charge was yesterday the subject of decent market support.

LAST YEAR’S winner Hedgehunter heads a healthy entry of 148 for the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on April 8.

Paul Nicholls has a powerful 10-strong team entered in the John Smith’s Grand National as he continues his quest for his first trainers’ championship.

Richard Johnson faces a race against time to be fit to partner ante-post favourite One Knight in the Coral Welsh National after a heavy fall at Sandown.

Connections of Bindaree will postpone his retirement and instead head for the Welsh National in December and the Grand National next April.

Trainer Ned Mitchell has one eye firmly focused on the John Smith’s Grand National next April after Garvivonnian proved his mettle over the Aintree fences in the totesport Becher Chase.

Euro Leader, the mount of Ruby Walsh, and Garvivonnian head the list of runners declared for tomorrow’s Guinness Kerry National.

MOSCOW FLYER appears to have scared off most of his rivals as he faces a maximum of five challengers in the Paddy Power Dial-a-Bet Chase at Leopardstown next Monday.

Trainer Michael Hourigan has issued an upbeat report ahead of Beef Or Salmon’s seasonal reappearance in the Clonmel Oil Chase tomorrow.

TORDUFF BOY gets the nap to beat two more highly-rated opponents, Go Roger Go and Moscow Express, in the Gleneagle Hotel ’Chase at the opening stage of the Killarney Festival tonight.

MICHAEL GRASSICK, fresh from a double on the flat at Fairyhouse on Saturday and on the mark with Major Title at Leopardstown, continued his terrific run when King’s Opera won the featured Murphys’ Irish Stout Handicap Hurdle at Killarney yesterday.

FRANCES CROWLEY’S Hidden Genius, taken from some 5-4 to evens and the medium of one bet of €12,500 to €10,000 with leading layer David Hyland, was given a confident drive by Shay Barry to win the Saltan Properties Maiden Hurdle at a bitterly cold Tramore yesterday.