Hedgehunter on comeback trail

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

Having landed the John Smith’s Grand National by an emphatic 14 lengths in 2005, the 11-year-old returned to Aintree to finish a gallant second behind Numbersixvalverde under a big weight last year.

The Trevor Hemmings-owned gelding will line up over two miles in the UL Bohemians Raceday Hurdle at the weekend with handler Willie Mullins looking forward to his return .

“We’ve been quite pleased with him at home and I just want to get a racecourse appearance into him before the National.

“The conditions of the race won’t suit him but I wouldn’t want to go there without a run.”

Hedgehunter made his seasonal reappearance last November but suffered a setback which has kept him out of action since.

“If he comes back safe and sound at the weekend that’d be great – that’s all I’m hoping for,” Mullins added.

“He had a knee problem before but it seems to be holding up well now and he seems to be over it.”

Hedgehunter is a widely-available 14-1 chance to repeat his heroics of 2005 in this year’s Aintree marathon.