Racing: Connections of last year's Aintree Grand National winner Hedgehunter admit he faces an uphill battle against Beef Or Salmon at Leopardstown on Sunday.
The pair are set to line up in the three-mile Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup with Hedgehunter having finished a 17-length fourth behind Beef Or Salmon in the Lexus Chase over course and distance last time.
The Willie Mullins-trained 10-year-old will have to step up on that performance if he is to trouble Beef Or Salmon but Michael Meagher, racing manager to owner Trevor Hemmings, is hoping they can make up some of the deficit.
"Hedgehunter ran well last time but he had a soft lead and had things all his own way up front," said Meagher. "As soon as they challenged him at the third last he found nothing though, so it wasn’t that great.
"We expected him to run as well as he did. He’s a good horse and we’d have been disappointed if he didn’t run that well. Everyone said he ran a grand race but it was expected really. He’s got 17 lengths to find with Beef Or Salmon on Sunday which is an awful lot.
"We would prefer the ground to be a little bit softer but that would suit Beef Or Salmon as well. We’ll see how he goes on Sunday before we make a decision on the Cheltenham Gold Cup but the plan is still to head for another National."