David Casey believes last year's John Smith's Grand National winner Hedgehunter is entitled to take his chance in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 17.
The jockey is due to partner the 10-year-old in tomorrow's Hennessey Cognac Gold Cup, after which trainer Willie Mullins will make a decision about his participation in the blue riband, for which he is a general 16-1 chance.
"I think he is good enough for the Gold Cup and he proved what a good horse he is when he annihilated the field in the Grand National last year," Casey told At The Races.
"He has been on the up for the last couple of years and he deserves to go there and take his chance."
"It is going to be an open year for the Gold Cup with so many fancies out of the race and he has to go there with a chance, but we have got to get tomorrow out of the way first."
"Beef Or Salmon beat him 17 lengths the last day (in the Lexus Chase) and we will have to see if he is able to get closer or turn it around."
Filed by Katie Byrne
