Horse Racing tips: Ruby Walsh’s verdict on Monday’s Irish Grand National

Ruby runs the rule over the field in the Fairyhouse feature.

Ruby Walsh

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This is never an easy race to call, but 16 of the last 17 winners have carried less than 11st – the only one that carried more than that was Our Duke and he probably had a similar profile to LATEST EXHIBITION. Latest Exhibition wears cheek pieces for the first time and as an eight-year-old, carrying 11st 10lbs, he has to have a chance.

Joseph O’Brien’s SEMPO has been well-touted during the week, but he has to improve a little bit. RUN WILD FRED was a good second in the Thyestes to COKO BEACH so he has to have a shout. People are worried about the ground regarding THE BIG DOG, but I beat him in a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown on board Castlebawn West and that was quick ground – so he should handle it.

AGUSTA GOLD is Paul Townend’s choice of Willie Mullins’ runners and she is having her first run for the Irish Champion trainer as Mags Mullins used to train her.

The trip will suit her and she seems to be going well in her homework. HOME BY THE LEE got back to winning ways on his last start and has a chance but you would think that the handicapper has COKO BEACH in his grip at this stage while COURT MAID has plenty of weight on her back at 11st 9lbs.

I don’t think the slowly-run National Hunt Chase really suited ESCARIA TEN, but he stayed at it well. Adrian Heskin rides and he definitely has a chance.

Of the others, I think ESPANITO BELLO will turn the tables on Coko Beach from their Navan run. The mistake he made at the last fence that day was quite costly, so if he jumps better he has a great chance. I’m not sure MOYHENNA has much up her sleeve from the handicapper while OFF YOU GO is going way up in trip having been a dual 2m handicap hurdle winner at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Espanito Bello Mark Bolger Navan February 21, 2021

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Both TEN TEN and TOP MOON have been banging on the door but just hasn’t been winning while BRACE YOURSELF was pretty good early in the season, coming second to Court Maid in the Porterstown Handicap and was third behind Pencilfulloflead and Latest Exhibition in the Florida Pearl Chase at Punchestown.

BRAHMA BULL needs to jump a bit better than he has in the past and the same could be said for Jessica Harrington’s DISCORDANTLY. I don’t know how long it has been since FITZ HENRY last won a race and then you’re down into the reserves.

It is traditionally wide-open, and there is a pile of novices here. I would have loved it if Tiger Roll had run, keeping ESPANITO BELLO under 11st, because he’s the one I really like, but I’m not going to desert him yet. These novices are all unexposed and still improving, so it’s hard for the handicapper to get a handle on them. I think a novice will win it, but you’ve just got to pick the right one.

I’m sticking with Espanito Bello.

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at the time of publication but subject to change

Ruby Walsh’s Irish Grand National tip:

ESPANITO BELLO

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