Dunguib emulated Cousin Vinny 12 months earlier and followed up his Cheltenham bumper success with an ultra-impressive victory in the Paddy Power Champion INH Flat Race at Punchestown.

Tom O’Leary would love to see the clouds gather over Aintree this week with every drop of rain set to aid the chances of his confirmed mudlark Preists Leap in the John Smith’s Grand National.

HEDGEHUNTER, winner of the 2005 John Smith’s Grand National, has been retired.

Hedgehunter, winner of the 2005 John Smith’s Grand National, has been retired.

Forty horses take on the four miles and four furlongs and thirty fences of the Aintree Grand National this afternoon.

It took Frankie Dettori 15 attempts to win the Derby and now racing’s other household name is hoping his turn has finally come in the Grand National.

Tom Mullins believes John Smith’s Grand National candidate Chelsea Harbour ticks all the right boxes for Saturday’s Aintree spectacular.

PAUL Nicholls is doing his best to secure the services of Ruby Walsh for Turko, whom he fancies “quite strongly” for the John Smith’s Grand National on Saturday.

Paul Nicholls is doing his best to secure the services of Ruby Walsh for Turko, whom he fancies “quite strongly” for the John Smith’s Grand National on Saturday.

Afistfullofdollars confirmed Noel Meade's team are well and truly back in business by grabbing the feature race at Fairyhouse.

Beef Or Salmon is poised to crown a glorious career with a tilt at the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on April 5.

WILLIE Mullins fears John Smith’s Grand National talking horse Snowy Morning has been harshly treated by the handicapper – despite bookmakers thrusting him to favouritism for the Aintree showpiece.

Willie Mullins reports Hedgehunter and Snowy Morning firmly in the hunt for Aintree glory.

ANTE-POST punters have suffered a blow yesterday when trainer Martin Brassil revealed Numbersixvalverde had not been entered for the John Smith’s Grand National after failing to make sufficient progress from injury.

TWO years ago Irish steeplechasing was on a massive high, after War Of Attrition, Hedgehunter and Forget The Past had filled the first three places in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Hedgehunter, the 2005 John Smith’s Grand National winner, is under the spotlight for a return to action over hurdles this weekend.

Denman and The Listener both feature among the 12 preliminary entries for the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28.

Hedgehunter begins his journey for a fifth attempt at the John Smith’s Grand National by making his seasonal debut at Punchestown on Saturday.

WILLIE MULLINS is predicting a bold show from Hedgehunter in Saturday’s John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree.

WILLIE MULLINS could saddle as many as five runners in the John Smith’s Grand National on Saturday after 68 horses stood their ground at the five-day confirmation stage yesterday.

Willie Mullins has issued an upbeat bulletin on Hedgehunter ahead of next Saturday’s John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree.

Ossmoses has been ruled out of the John Smith’s Grand National.

Hedgehunter is now a best-priced 16-1 for the John Smith’s Grand National despite pleasing connections on his comeback run over hurdles at Limerick on Sunday.

HEDGEHUNTER ran a satisfactory enough Aintree Grand National trial at Limerick yesterday when finishing ninth behind Wishwillow Lord in the UL Bohemians’ Raceday Hurdle.

Hedgehunter will finally get his faltering season back on track with a prep race over timber at Limerick on Sunday.

PAT HUGHES has reported Point Barrow to be in top shape after his recent exertions as money continues to pour in for the John Smith’s Grand National hope.

Evan Williams has warned that State Of Play is only “50-50” to run in the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree.

Hedgehunter is still on target for the John Smith’s Grand National despite taken out of the Cheltenham Gold Cup at the latest forfeit stage.

Exotic Dancer and Hedgehunter have been allocated joint top weight of 11st 12lb for this year’s John Smith’s Grand National.

MICHAEL O’BRIEN will hold an exceptionally strong hand in Saturday’s Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown with two runners, including the likely favourite In Compliance.

A high-class entry featuring 119 hopefuls has been revealed for the John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree on April 14.

HEDGEHUNTER, winner of the 2005 Grand National, is likely to be seen in Grade One action next month.

THURLES may be right at the bottom of the Racing Post’s list of what a racecourse should be, understandably, but is top of the hit-parade as far as racegoers are concerned.

Hedgehunter, winner of the 2005 Grand National, is set to make his seasonal reappearance in the Rock Of Cashel Hurdle at Thurles tomorrow.

WILLIE MULLINS could give Hedgehunter a first start of the season in Thursday’s Thurles Chase, but will not make a final decision about his participation until declaration day.

Willie Mullins could give Hedgehunter a first start of the season in Thursday's Thurles Chase, but will not make a final decision about his participation until declaration day.

CLAN ROYAL is set to make his seasonal reappearance in the bet365 Handicap Hurdle at Wetherby tomorrow.

TOM HOGAN'S Kalderon has promised to deliver a decent pot for a while and he did it at the conclusion of the Tralee Festival yesterday when putting up a game display in the Listed Ruby Stakes.

Vincent O’Brien, Paddy Mullins and Dermot Weld are among 20 "racing heroes" to be honoured by Horse Racing Ireland on Ryder Cup race day at the Curragh on September 19.

CHELTENHAM Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition has been installed the even-money favourite by Cashmans for tomorrow’s Guinness Gold Cup at Punchestown.

Willie Mullins revealed that Hedgehunter is “50-50” to lock horns with Cheltenham Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition at Punchestown.

OUR BEN, trained by Willie Mullins, heads 30 runners in the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Monday.

Postman Mark Wylie from Glasgow is in line to complete a monster pay out of nearly a quarter of a million pounds if he can find the winner of the 2.55 race at Haydock on Saturday.

Missed That heads a star-studded field of nine runners in the Grade One Powers Gold Cup over two and a half miles at Fairyhouse on Sunday.