Hedgehunter heads huge National entry

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

Willie Mullins’ 10-year-old romped to a 14-length victory over Royal Auclair in the four-and-a-half-mile showpiece and is due to continue his build-up at Aintree in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday week.

Clan Royal, runner-up in 2004 and leading when carried out by a loose horse at Becher’s Brook last year, could bid to make it third time lucky for trainer Jonjo O’Neill and owner JP McManus.