Mullins star may run at festival

Racing News: Hedgehunter, a gallant runner-up in both the Gold Cup and the Grand National within the last four weeks, doesn't look like he is finished for the season just yet and has another clash with his Cheltenham conqueror War Of Attrition in his sights at Punchestown.

Trainer Willie Mullins reported yesterday that the Guinness Gold Cup is under serious consideration for Hedgehunter who found only Numbersixvalverde too good last Saturday in his attempt at back to back National victories.

"He appears to have come out of Aintree very well and we will certainly look very carefully at the race at Punchestown," said Mullins who also revealed that his good novice Our Ben, prominent in ante-post lists for Monday's Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National, is not a certain starter at Fairyhouse.

"Our Ben has a few options and we will wait and see how he works during the week before deciding. He is also in the Powers Gold Cup on Sunday or we might just wait and go straight for Punchestown.

"I'm in no hurry and no decision is likely until we have to declare on Friday," the former champion trainer said.

"I have other options for the National (Mullins entries also include Joueur D'Estruval and Homer Wells) but Our Ben is still a possible. Missed That is also a possible runner in the Powers Gold Cup," he added.

Mullins's brother Tom is having second thoughts on his immediate post-race impulse to run the Aintree Hurdle winner Asian Maze against Brave Inca and the other two mile stars in the ACC Bank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.

The Stayers option over three miles at the festival is also being considered by the trainer.

"We would find out a bit more in the two mile race as regards deciding what route to go down next year. But the three mile race has the same prizemoney and the same Grade One prestige without looking as hard a race.

"At first the plan was the two mile race but now I think I'll wait and make the critical decision closer to the time.

"There's little doubt the longer race looks a simpler option but I'm not sure yet where she'll go. The main thing is that she's come out of Saturday's race in great order," he said.

Bookmakers are starting to fear a swamp of support for the prolific ante-post Irish National favourite Dun Doire who is now a general 4 to 1 favourite for the Easter Monday feature.

"At this stage last year we had a very competitive market but this time it's looking pretty clear cut about Dun Doire," a Cashmans spokesman said yesterday.

Before the Fairyhouse Easter festival there will be classic trials at Leopardstown on Saturday where the ground yesterday was officially yielding to soft.

"We are supposed to get up to 6mms of rain on Tuesday and after that it will be unsettled until the weekend. It could end up soft everywhere depending on what we get," said Leopardstown's racing manager Tom Burke yesterday.

A total of 10 entries remain in the Group Three 2,000 Guineas Trial including the Aidan O'Brien trio of Ivan Denisovich, James Joyce and Marcus Andronicus.

The Prix Morny runner-up Ivan Denisovich last ran when down the field in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile in New York and may end up facing Jim Bolger's Heliostatic who was backed for the Derby after impressing in a gallop at the Curragh on Sunday. John Oxx's Caribbean, a 2,000 Guineas entry, is also an entry for Saturday.

Ten fillies remain in the Group Three 1,000 Trial over seven furlongs and they include the Park Stakes winner Ugo Fire as well as the Mick Channon-trained Asaawir from Britain.

Meanwhile, the Grand National failure Garvivonnian is likely to return to Aintree next November and try and secure another Becher Chase victory over the big fences.

His trainer Ned Mitchell said: "He got too excited before the National and the false start was not a help. It all got too much for him. We will probably let him down now and come back for the Kerry National before trying again for the Becher."

IRISH GRAND NATIONAL (Betting: Paddy Power): 4 Dun Doire, 8 Forget The Past, 12 Beef Or Salmon, 14 GVA Ireland, Our Ben, Ross River and Banasan, 16 Bar.