Aintree beckons for Hedgehunter
Hedgehunter staked a strong claim for the Martell Cognac Grand National with a brilliant round of jumping to win the Goulding Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park today.
Willie Mullins’ chaser was cut to 16-1 from 20-1 with both Coral and Paddy Power for the Aintree spectacular on April 3 following his eight-length win over I’vehadit.
The eight-never put a foot wrong throughout the three-mile contest and is sure to be a leading contender for the National on the evidence of this run.
David Casey took Hedgehunter, the 100-30 favourite, to the head of affairs at the third fence after Be My Belle had made the early running.
The eight-year-old enjoyed himself in front and bounded clear of his only serious challenger I’vehadit (14-1) in the straight to win by eight lengths.
The winner’s stable companion Rule Supreme (7-1) was a further three and a half lengths back in third.
A delighted Mullins said: “I feel that’s the way to ride him. He jumped his way to the front, and hopefully that will get him into Aintree off a nice weight.
“He may have one more run at Haydock before the Grand National but he’s a light-framed horse and I will have to discuss it first with the owner, Trevor Hemmings.”
Casey added: “He gave me a super ride. He jumps for fun, has loads of gears and gets a trip.”
Mullins and Casey completed a quick double when Boneyarrow (3-1) put up a game performance to win the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Novice Chase.
Boneyarrow set out to make all the running but was headed at the second last by Davy Russell on Camden Tanner.
However, Casey managed to get a renewed effort from the eight-year-old who regained the lead on the run-in to win by a length.
Xenophon, the Tony Martin-trained 11-8 favourite, was eight lengths away in third, having been unable to get in a blow at the first two.
Rosaker could be heading for the Cheltenham Festival after easily landing odds of 4-6 in the betfair.com Galmoy Stayers Hurdle Trial.
Trainer Noel Meade was a relieved man after the seven-year-old gelding provided him with his first winner since his powerful yard was struck down with a virus just before Christmas.
“Happy days are here again,” was Meade’s immediate response, before adding: “Rosaker will go now for the Boyne Hurdle at Navan on February 15 and we will see then about Cheltenham.
“This follow had a dirty nose but no temperature and it is nice to see the horses back in form.”
Rosaker’s odds remained unchanged at 25-1 with Coral for the bonusprint.com Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival on March 18.
