Mullins Happy With Hedgehunter

Willie Mullins intends to run Hedgehunter a couple of times in the coming weeks before pitching the 11-year-old into better company over the Christmas period.

The Trevor Hemmings-owned gelding won the John Smith's Grand National in 2005 before finishing second and ninth in the last two renewals.

And while races like the Lexus Chase could be on the agenda, his campaign will again be planned with Aintree in mind.

Mullins said: 'He is in great form. He has not done any fast work yet but with the rain at the weekend he might start doing some soon.

'I'd hope to get two runs into him before Christmas and we'll then look at the Lexus and the Hennessy.

'He will have an entry in the Gold Cup again but he will probably skip that and go straight for the National.

'He may have one run over hurdles to start but there is no point campaigning him over hurdles as we are no longer protecting his handicap mark over fences.

'Hopefully the ligament problem that troubled him last year won't be an issue this season and a good summer off will have helped.'

(C) PA Sport