Welsh National Preview: Willie Mullins can make the trip to Chepstow pay today by taking the Coral Welsh National with Hedgehunter.
The seven-year-old has been one of the leading ante-post fancies for the race after his promising fourth behind Strong Flow last time out in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup.
Although he was some 17 lengths behind the impressive winner, it was a creditable run considering he had not eaten up well the night before and sweated up before the race began.
The extended three-mile-two-furlong trip that day may just have been a bit short of his best, too, and the move back up in distance should suit.
Hedgehunter was so nearly a winner at the Cheltenham Festival, but a bad blunder cost him victory in the National Hunt Chase.
That seems to have been overlooked by the handicapper and Hedgehunter will carry just 10st 1lb at the Welsh track.
As long as his jumping stands up, a big run is expected.
Mondul can make it a hat-trick in the Grade One eLINIA Finale Juvenile Hurdle. Nothing could get near him in the Grade Two Summit Junior Hurdle and he strolled to a 12-length victory over Zimbabwe. Any rain at Chepstow will help his cause and Mondul can claim this Grade One event.
Ferdy Murphy's eight-year-old gelding Truckers Tavern can defy top weight in the skybet.com Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase at Wetherby if he is back to the kind of form that saw him finish second in last season's Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup.
