Ruby Walsh's Irish National horse-by-horse guide
THE BOY WONDER: Argento Boy and Paul Townend win for trainer Willie Mullins earlier this year. Pic: Healy Racing
At five o'clock this evening, the following 30 horses will make some sort of a line for the BoyleSports Grand National. I hope this helps you find the winner.
Set to carry top weight and runs off the same mark as he did when sixth here last year. Needs to be 27 lengths better this year to win. Place chance.
Unlucky in the Ultima at Cheltenham when he sprawled on landing at the last and unseated his rider. Solid run in the Paddy Power too, but pulled up in the Thyestes. Place claims.
The ideal profile, being a novice running in his first handicap. Two from four over fences and eighth in the Brown Advisory. Stays all day and a strong candidate for any short list.
Similar profile to Argento Boy and finished just in front of him at Cheltenham, One from four over fences, and stamina gained him that success. Sure to stay. Massive each-way value.
An improving English novice who won the Reynoldstown at Ascot in February. Three from four over fences and races close to the pace. Big player, but at 5-1, others make more appeal.
A nine-year-old with only 12 runs. Still a novice and went to Cheltenham off an 81-day break, so he could be better for that run. Has some decent form in the book —too big a price at 40/1.
Troytown second is best run this season, but couldn’t take advantage of his lower hurdle mark since. Fit and stays but he would be a surprise winner to me.
Two from four over fences and another improving novice, but he is zero from three beyond 2m7f and didn't even finish in the money on those goes in stamina races. Right profile, but major stamina doubts.
Novice with a perfect weight who has improved going out in distance but pulled up last time at Naas. If the horse that won on either side of Christmas turns up. He is a player.
Could gallop all day by the looks of him and had a sharpener at Thurles over a shorter trip last time out. Shrewd connections have been targeting this all year — big player.
Third in the Kim Muir and fifth in the Welsh National, but at 10 years of age and off a mark of 141, all the novices make more appeal. Will be hopping to cover his expenses.
Must be a pleasure of a mare to own. Solid Thyestes third, likewise in the Galway Plate and the 2025 running of the Mrs Paddy Power. Could sneak a place if she is lucky.
Zero from four over fences and disappointing on the whole. Better run latest when fifth over 2m4f at Cheltenham, and the step up to a real test might suit —only a six-year-old, so he could still improve.
Second in the 2025 Thyestes to Nick Rockett, but five starts since have been disappointing to say the least. Pulled up on three of those starts, and he is impossible to fancy today.
Third UK raider and the mount of Sean Bowen. One from four over fences and remote third at the Cheltenham Festival over this trip. More is required today in a deeper race.
Six-year-old improver with six starts over fences. Cosy winner at Navan in February, but got mugged in the Leinster National close home in March. Still well handicapped. Big player.
One from six over fences but never tried beyond 2m6f. Can be keen, and from what I can see, there is no stamina in her pedigree or from the sire's offspring. Not for me.
Idled in front when Spanish Harlem departed at the last in the Thyestes and was unlucky to get nabbed on the line. Had a hurdle prep for this and jumps and stays—each-way player.
Both chase wins came under Gavin Cromwell's care in early 2024, but he has been regressing since. Changed address in December 2025. Form not inspiring. Hard to fancy.
The only five-year-old in the line-up who had decent form in his first three chase starts. Blew out in the National Hunt Chase, never jumped or travelled, and this could be a year too early for him.
Another novice who made good progress through the early part of the season, but his sixth in the National Hunt Chase leaves him with a lot of improving to do today.
Has managed one win from 18 goes over fences. Second in the 2024 Galway Plate is his best run and off the track since the Kerry National. Gordon Elliott can take a bow if he collects with this lad.
Ten-year-old who had one run between February 23 and November 25. Two from five over fences and impressed at Leopardstown last time out. Extra distance will help. Looks solid each-way value.
Has flattered to deceive at times, but on the pick of his form — third in 2025 Kim Muir and 2026 Leinster National — gives him a chance. Lightweight and big price = small each-way stake.
Found his mojo in January of this year and hasn’t looked back since. Needs to defy a 9lb rise in the weights today, but is in super form, so he could do so. Shortlisted.
Zeo from four over fences, but a dark one. He has good back form over hurdles, and his chase campaign looks tailored towards a big day. At 50-1, this lad has an each-way appeal.
Imported by Eric McNamara last May and was competitive in the Kerry and Munster Nationals. Two runs since have been below that level. Others are preferred.
Landed last Sunday's Ulster National and sneaks in here now, but this is a much stronger contest. Locals will like him, but Downpatrick has to have improved him and not left him flat.
He is like the weather, and no one knows which version you will get. If he attacks the first couple of fences, he'll be there or thereabouts, but that's a big if.
Zero from seven over fences and he has never delivered on the promise of his Martin Pipe second in 2024. Disappointed in the Kim Muir, but the ability is in there somewhere — a cliff horse for many.
