Ruby Walsh: Espanito Bello ticks all the right boxes for Irish Grand National

This time of year, as the ground starts to dry and the pace starts to crank up, is always a strange time of year

Espanito Bello. Picture: Healy Racing.

Last Tuesday, whilst walking across the Curragh riding work for Willie Mullins, I passed a throwaway comment that the sunshine on a beautiful spring afternoon would put you in good form, to which I got the very sharp reply from Paul Townend: “Easy spot the retired lad!” 

And that made me chuckle, because this time of year, as the ground starts to dry and the pace starts to crank up, was always a strange time of year.