Ruby Walsh hopes Hedgehunter can defy the weight of history by winning the Grand National for a second consecutive season. Willie Mullins's 10-year-old stole the show at Aintree last April with a flawless 14-length success from Royal Auclair to earn Walsh his second National success after he rode Papillon to glory in 2000.
Hedgehunter must carry 11st 12lb to win the National this time around and is currently 4 to 1 favourite with Coral after finishing a superb second behind War Of Attrition in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
And while Walsh acknowledges Mullins' star must put in the greatest weight-carrying performance at Aintree since Red Rum, who won back-to-back Nationals under 12st in 1974, the jockey insists Hedgehunter has the potential to win again.
He said: "I know he's got the weight and not since Red Rum has a horse won with top weight, but some horse has to do it someday and hopefully it will be Hedgehunter."
GRAND NATIONAL (Coral bet): 4-1 Hedgehunter, 5-1 Clan Royal, 12-1 Dun Doire, Numbersixvalverde, 14-1 Innox, Sir Rembrandt, 16-1 Lord Of Illusion, Cornish Rebel, Royal Auclair, Jack High, 20-1 Garvivonnian, Ebony Light, Eurotrek, Silver Birch, 25-1 Direct Access, 28-1 Joes Edge, 33-1 bar.
