Hedgehunter favourite for National

Hedgehunter looks set to start favourite for the John Smith's Grand National after the final declarations for Saturday's Aintree showpiece were made today.

The Willie Mullins-trained gelding, who appeared set for a place until falling at the last 12 months ago, heads the market at around 8-1 with several major bookmakers for the biggest betting race of the year.

However, the nine-year-old will have to overcome 39 rivals to claim the £700,000 prize after all the leading fancies stood their ground at today's 48-hour stage.

Last year's winner Amberleigh House and gallant runner-up Clan Royal both take him on again, while Carrie Ford walked the Aintree course with former top jockey Neale Doughty this morning ahead of her bid to become the first woman to ride the National winner aboard Forest Gunner.

Doughty won the 1984 National aboard Hallo Dandy and is advising Ford about the best tactics to employ in a race which features several other front runners.

She said: "Neale had a great record round Aintree and he's always been a big help. He feels it's best to walk the track early, let it all sink in and then go to Aintree on Saturday and just keep focussed."

The ongoing debate about who will ride the Gold Cup runner-up Take The Stand was finally resolved when Welsh trainer Peter Bowen secured the services of Leighton Aspell.

Aspell has had only two previous National rides, but he finished second aboard Supreme Glory in 2003 and can expect a good ride from Take The Stand if the nine-year-old's jumping holds up, according to Bowen.

"He did make mistakes at the first two fences in the Gold Cup, but after that he jumped brilliantly," Bowen said. "He's potentially the class horse of the race, but the National is the National and it takes a lot of jumping."

Today's declarations brought delight for connections of L'Aventure, who crept into the field at the bottom of the weights, but dismay for those involved with Native Emperor.

Jonjo O'Neill's gelding missed the cut by one, though he stands top of the reserve list and could still run if any of the field are withdrawn by 9.30am tomorrow.

Meanwhile, overnight rain which continued during this morning means that the 2005 National winner will have to handle testing conditions well.

Clerk of the course Andrew Tulloch changed the official ground to good to soft, soft in places after walking the course and conditions could deteriorate further if the forecast for further rain proves accurate.