Walsh keeps faith in Hedgehunter

RUBY WALSH hopes Hedgehunter can defy the weight of history by winning the John Smith’s Grand National for a second consecutive season.

Willie Mullins’ 10-year-old stole the show at Aintree last April with a flawless 14-length success from Royal Auclair to earn Walsh his second National success after he rode Papillon to glory in 2000.

Hedgehunter must carry 11st 12lb to win the National this time around and is currently 4-1 favourite with Coral after finishing a superb second behind War Of Attrition in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.