Mullins not hedging his bets
He said: "They are both OK. Their preparation has been very good and I'm delighted with them.
"We'd like about four inches of rain for them but we're not going to get it. Both of them have won on goodish ground and I'd be more concerned about a clear passage through the race than the ground."
Hedgehunter made virtually all the running to open his account for the season at Gowran Park in January and he could be ridden prominently again tomorrow.
"I think you need to be up there," Mullins continued.
"If you take out Alexander Banquet's last run, his form isn't too bad. It's just that he got detached in the Gold Cup last time and Ruby (Walsh) wasn't hard on him when he wasn't firing on the day."
Jonjo O'Neill's Clan Royal, who has won twice over the Grand National fences, is also vying for favouritism.
"Clan Royal has been here twice and won twice, luckily enough, so he obviously likes the place. It's a strange place and he may be third time lucky, you never know," said O'Neill.
O'Neill will also run Joss Naylor, and the Jackdaws Castle handler added: "Joss Naylor is in great form as well and has probably got a bit more class.
"We come here with two great chances. It's a very open race.
"Clan Royal hasn't run since he won the Becher Chase here in November and he seems better fresh."
Paul Carberry tasted Grand National glory on Bobbyjo, who was trained by his father Tommy, in 1999 and he is expecting a good run from the well-backed Joss Naylor.
He said: "I had the choice of a couple of other rides in the race, but I went for Joss Naylor.
"I haven't ridden the horse, but I am sure Jonjo will tell me all I need to know about him and will have him spot on it is good to have another good ride in the race."
Tony Dobbin has not found the Grand National a happy hunting ground since he triumphed on Lord Gyllene in 1997. But he has come in for a plum ride on Gunner Welburn, who finished fourth last year, as Barry Fenton, who rode him, is currently sidelined with a broken leg.
Dobbin reflected: "I have not done much in the race since winning it. I missed it a couple of times, once through injury and once when the horse I was to ride was eliminated.
"I got round once, but I have had no luck since, so I hope it will change this weekend.
Timmy Murphy rides Davids Lad and he will be out to erase the memory of the Grand National two years ago, when they appeared to be travelling strongly when coming to grief at the fourth-last.
"The main thing about him is that you have to settle him and get him switched off early on," said Murphy.
"Two years ago I popped off handy to get a position and I could never get him back, and I was sitting there four out and I think he was maybe just getting tired when he fell."
Champion jockey Tony McCoy believes he has a great chance of winning his first National on Jurancon II tomorrow.
Jurancon II, one of seven runners for Martin Pipe in the £600,000 showpiece, won over an extended four miles at Uttoxeter last year and was very impressive when taking the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup at Haydock in February.
"I seriously believe he has a big chance," said McCoy.
"I know I've ridden horses that have been favourite or thereabouts for the last four or five years, but I genuinely believe that this one has got the right sort of credentials.
"He's won two Grand National trials and he was very impressive at Haydock last time, so he's entitled to be there or thereabouts as favourite."
Pipe, who won the race in 1994 with Miinnehoma, originally had six runners - Puntal, Jurancon II, Akarus, Bounce Back, Lord Atterbury and Blowing Wind.
But following the news that Silver Streak is to miss the race, Montreal steps in as first reserve to bolster the champion trainer's squad.
Pipe has booked conditional Joey Elliott who was victorious on Jurancon II last time out for the ride on Montreal.
