Walsh on Hedgehunter in National

Willie Mullins confirmed yesterday that Ruby Walsh will ride Hedgehunter in Saturday?s Coral Welsh Grand National but there was less positive news about his Champion Hurdle hope Davenport Milenium.

The Bula-runner up will miss out on an intended start over the holiday period and instead will be kept for either Cheltenham?s Cleeve Hurdle or the AIG at Leopardstown at the end of January.

'Davenport Milenium won?t run in anything this week because he has a little bit of a dirty nose. I?m not happy with him.

He?s riding out but we scoped him this morning and he wasn?t quite right. He will get a couple of weeks break and then we will see about the Cleeve Hurdle or the AIG,' Mullins said.

Davenport Milenium had been rated a 7 to 1 chance by Cashmans to beat Rhinestone Cowboy and Back In Front in next week?s Bewleys Hotel Hurdle at Leopardstown.

He also had an alternative engagement in Kempton?s Christmas Hurdle.

Mullins gave a much more upbeat report on Hedgehunter who is a 6 to 1 second favourite with the sponsor for the Chepstow marathon.

'The horse is in great form and Ruby will ride even if it means having to put a pound or two up in overweight,' he said.

No such firm riding plans have been organised for the two Mullins stalwarts who will return to action in the Ericsson on Sunday but the trainer did say that both Florida Pearl and Alexander Banquet are intended starters.

Florida Pearl?s former jockey Paul Carberry got the green light yesterday to return to race-riding at Leopardstown on Friday following injury.

Carberry, who broke his right thumb in a fall at Fairyhouse on November 30th, had the cast removed from his hand and later said: 'It seems to be in very good shape and I will definitely be riding on Friday.'

The double champion jockey?s holiday rides include Harbour Pilot in the Ericsson and possibly the smart novice hurdler Zum See.

One horse who will miss out on the Ericsson is Native Upmanship who instead takes on the reigning two mile champion Moscow Flyer in the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase on Saturday.

However, Conor O?Dwyer, who rides the two and a half mile specialist, is realistic about his chances of turning over the favourite.

'Native Upmanship seems in great form and there isn?t much else there for him to run in but all things being equal it?s hard to see him beating Moscow Flyer,' O?Dwyer said.

Barry Geraghty is expected to be on Le Coudray for JP McManus and Christy Roche in the Ericsson and will also be looking forward to the ride on Back In Front in Monday?s Bewleys Hurdle.

Edward O?Grady confirmed that Back In Front, an 8 to 1 shot for the Champion Hurdle in March, will take on Rhinestone Cowboy and Solerina.

The Aintree Hurdle winner Sacundai is also on track for the Woodies Hurdle over three miles on Sunday.

The threat to Irish racing caused by the dispute between racecourse medical officers and the racetracks disappeared last night when the two sides came to an interim agreement after marathon talks.

A formula to sort out the contract, conditions and pay problems was proposed by facilitator Eddie Browne and agreed by both sides.

The medical officers? chairman Dr David Molony confirmed that the threat to racing from January 1st does not now apply.