Racing: Ruby Walsh has decided to stay loyal to Hedgehunter ahead of the Grand National and attempt to repeat his 2005 success with the Willie Mullins-trained winner of the Aintree feature.
Mullins is delighted with the news after Paul Nicholls attempted to coax Walsh into riding Turko. Walsh rode Hedgehunter this morning, however, and Mullins feels his charge is finding his form again.
"I thought he might ride the other horse but he's elected to ride Hedgehunter. I'm happy as he knows him very well and hopefully it will be a good result," said Mullins. "I think he is coming back to himself and he appears in good form, he worked this morning and Ruby came to ride him.
"He just did a small canter this morning, he jumped 12 fences yesterday and jumped well so he seems in good form and all our preparations are just about finished for Aintree.
"He loves the track and if it keeps drying that will be in his favour, if it rains that will probably favour horses with lighter weights."
Mullins also has a strong second string to his bow in the shape of Snowy Morning, who was favourite for the race before disappointing last time out.
"I probably ran him too soon after the Hennessy in Ireland," Mullins told At The Races. "I wanted to go to the Bobbyjo Chase to get some more experience into him over fences but it was less than a fortnight between them and it probably came a little too soon.
"I'm giving the horse the benefit of the doubt that he might have just been feeling the effects of the Hennessy and that could have accounted for what appeared to be a poor run in the Bobbyjo.
"I think he will enjoy the fences, except for the Hennessy at Newbury (where he fell) we have never been worried about his jumping - I think think he jumps like a cat, he may have been too fresh at Newbury.
"Hedgehunter loves Aintree and hopefully he doesn't get brought down. If he doesn't, I think he is really coming to himself and he should be there or thereabouts turning for home, and after that who knows what will happen."
An unprecedented 99 horses remain in Saturday's £800,000 feature but only the 40 highest-weighted will remain after the final declaration on Thursday.
Hedgehunter and fellow Irish raider Hi Cloy head the weights on 11st 12lb and are among 21 Irish hopefuls.