Hedge starts hunt for more National glory
Hedgehunter begins his journey for a fifth attempt at the John Smith’s Grand National by making his seasonal debut at Punchestown on Saturday.
The 11-year-old goes for the John Durkan Punchestown Chase over two and a half miles, two miles shorter than the Aintree showpiece which he won in 2005.
“He’s in good form. We just schooled him this morning, he jumped well and we’re delighted with him,” said trainer Willie Mullins.
“I’m not worried about the prospect of heavy ground. The trip is a bit short but it’s just a nice track to get him going again.
“Aintree will be where we are going. Maybe he’ll have one or two races before the National, but we’ll just play it by ear and see what happens after Christmas.”
Hedgehunter, who carries the colours of Trevor Hemmings, fell at the final fence at Aintree in 2004 and was ninth behind Silver Birch in April on his latest start.
Before finishing runner-up un the 2006 renewal, he was second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, seven lengths ahead of Forget The Past, who will be one of his nine rivals on Sunday.
“He’s in good form. Heavy ground’s not ideal ground for him. He’d probably be more suited if it was a bit better, but we will take our chance,” said trainer Michael O’Brien of the latter.
The nine-year-old has had the benefit of a recent outing, with an encouraging win at Thurles.
In contrast, Arthur Moore wishes he could have got a run into Mansony.
“He’s good, but we haven’t had the chance to run him until now,” said Moore.
“It’s not ideal going for a two-and-a-half-mile Grade One on heavy ground but we have to get him started, the season’s kicking on.
“Unfortunately we couldn’t get to him a racecourse but he’s as fit as we can get him.
“We are looking forward to it, but we would have preferred him to have had a run under his belt. I think he’ll need it but he should run his race.”
Michael Hourigan is predicting a bold show from Hi Cloy after the 2005 winner of this race returned to action with a promising run over timber at Aintree last month.
“I had no race to run him in over here with the ground being so quick so we took him to Liverpool and he finished second. He ran very well,” Hourigan told At The Races.
“He’s in good form. He needed to run when he did because he was boiling over on me but its just settled him down and I think he’ll run a big race on Sunday.”
Robert Alner’s The Listener, winner of the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown last December, is the sole British challenger.
The grey will is 6-4 favourite with William Hill to make amends after unseating Daryl Jacob at the third fence in the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal five weeks ago.
Hills spokesman Tony Kenny said: “The conditions of the race look ideal for The Listener, and if can get around, then he’ll probably win.”
He continued “The punters seem to be of the same opinion, and at this stage he’s a stand-out loser in our ante-post book.”
