Beef or Salmon tops National field

Beef Or Salmon heads the weights for the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National after Michael Hourigan declared his 10-time Grade One winner for Monday’s marathon.

The popular 12-year-old will shoulder 12st as he attempts Fairyhouse’s three-mile-five-furlong trip for the first time.

Next in the weights on 11st 3lb is Forget The Past, third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup two years ago, while the Denis Hickey-trained Ballistraw is the only other runner weighted above 11st.

The remaining 23 hopefuls are headed by the Willie Mullins-trained Alexander Taipan, whose stablemates Homer Wells and Pomme Tiepy are other interesting candidates.

Cailin Alainn will run for Charles Byrnes, while Galway Plate winner Sir Frederick represents Liam Burke.

Ante-post favourite Royal County Star, the mount of Timmy Murphy, shoulders an attractive-looking 10st 4lb for Tony Martin, who also saddles Newbay Prop.

British interest lay with the Venetia Williams-trained duo of Flintoff and The Outlier.