Newbury remains the primary target for Druids Nephew

Victorious at the Cheltenham Festival, the horse was leading the Crabbies Grand National when coming to grief before finishing sixth in last month’s bet365 West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby.

With Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Coneygree set to carry top weight after pleasing connections following a recent injury scare, there will be a clutch of potentially top-class horses carrying 10st or little more in this historic handicap.

“Newbury is still very much the plan and we’re pleased with him following a racecourse gallop at the track last Tuesday,” said Mulholland, who was attached to Ferdy Murphy’s West Witton yard before joining the training ranks.

“He’s in good form at home and I’m happy with him. It looks like we’re in for a dry week and that will only enhance his claims come the weekend.”

Mulholland also saddles The Young Master, while former Gold Cup winner Bobs Worthy is an intriguing entry for Nicky Henderson following a heartwarming win – albeit over hurdles – at Aintree 10 days ago.

Meanwhile, the colours of the ever-popular Cue Card, winner of both the Charlie Hall and Betfair Chases, look set to be carried by Theatre Guide, who was third in the 2013 Hennessy.

Third at Wetherby on his reappearance, trainer Colin Tizzard said of Theatre Guide: “Of all the horses we have run this season, he definitely needed his first run the most.

“He has been working with Cue Card, although he has not been keeping up with him!”

Yorkshire hopes could rest with Sue and Harvey Smith’s Cloudy Too, although the horse holds an entry in Newcastle’s Rehearsal Chase on the same afternoon.

The chief supporting race to the Hennessy is the Long Walk Hurdle in which the field is headed by Cole Harden who won the West Yorkshire Hurdle just over 12 months ago before recording a famous victory in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival for trainer Warren Greatrex and jockey Gavin Sheehan.

Wicklow Brave, runner-up to Litigant in York’s Ebor, has been supplemented for the grade One StanJames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday.

Trained by the all-conqeuring Willie Mullins, this dual-purpose horse was last seen finishing a fine third behind stablemates Nichols Canyon and Faugheen, the reigning Champion Hurdle hero, in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown.