Hedgehunter, who finished a gallant third in the Coral Welsh National is set to return to Britain for his next outing, according to trainer Willie Mullins.
The Aintree Grand National is the ultimate goal for the Trevor Hemmings owned horse, but whether the 2004 renewal comes too soon in the career of the seven-year-old is yet to be decided.
He showed that he had the required stamina when chasing home Bindaree and Sir Rembrandt in last week's Chepstow mudbath.
And Mullins reports his charge to be none the worse for the gruelling race: "I thought he ran a very good race and although he was pretty tired at the finish, he is back out in the paddock and seems absolutely fine," the trainer said.
"Understandably, Mr Hemmings prefers his horses to run in Britain if they can so his next race will probably be at Haydock (in the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup), although there is the alternative of the Thyestes Chase."
Filed by James McMahon
