Ruby Walsh's Grand National tips: 1-2-3-4 prediction and more

Looking back at last year’s race, I think fitness got I Am Maximus as he missed the Bobbyjo Chase, and conditioning was the difference between him and Nick Rockett. I think from Becher’s back around towards the Melling Road, that Grangeclare West just got too close to the pace, whereas the others dropped off it, and had a bit more left at the end. 

The first-time cheekpieces [on I Am Maximus] have worked for other horses for Willie this season, and you would have to think that they will be a help to him, but he’s a bit of a character and there’s always the chance that when you put headgear on some horses, they completely back out of it. I don’t think he will, but there is a chance. 

I think the Bobbyjo could be key again this year. Lecky Watson made a bad mistake that day, but a bit of drier ground and the new-look fences at Aintree may suit him. Captain Cody got low at a couple of fences that day, and I thought Brian Hayes was good and brave to put him back in the contest the way he was jumping. If he gets his jumping together on nicer ground, he could well get involved. Spanish Harlem looked like somebody had switched him off going to the fifth-last – he just dropped out – but the cheekpieces are back on him that he wore in the Thyestes.

Grangeclare West is meeting a lot of these rivals on worse terms, but heavy ground that day was not his forte and this drier ground will really suit him. But I do think Stellar Story was the other one to take out of that contest. He had an 8lb penalty – was giving weight away to everything – and he has a huge swing at the weights, including with Grangeclare West.

For me, it’s a big negative that Nick Rockett has only had one run this season. He was a very good winner last year, and is only a nine-year-old, but I think prep is key for a Grand National. I’m sure Willie would have loved to have gotten more runs into him, but it’s just been stop-start.

I thought Monty’s Star ran well in the Savills Chase just after Christmas, running on really well from the back of the field. He wasn’t beaten as far as he looked like he might be. He had a poor run in the Irish Gold Cup after, but that Savills run was a solid effort, and I’ve always thought a Grand National might suit him.

Henry de Bromhead has done it before with Minella Times, and he has Gorgeous Tom, too, who’s following a similar profile; I think he’s a big runner as well. He always looks like he wants further but every time he goes up in trip, it hasn’t made him any quicker. However, this further step up will help him again.

Favori De Champdou is up 17lb from the mark from which he won at the Paddy Power meeting, and I’m not so sure he can win a Grand National, but I think Final Orders is the interesting one to take from the Cross Country last month. He’s low and quick at his obstacles, and he flicked over them last month. I know he’s getting a bit older, but he had the pace to win at two miles in his youth, so he will have the pace to hold a decent position here.

Of the other JP McManus runners, aside from I Am Maximus, I think the novice Oscars Brother is a very good horse, but I’m worried that he will get himself out of position over the first three fences because he jumps very big. On that subject, Jagwar has his own way of jumping and is going to be in first-time cheekpieces, but if you’ve backed him you might prefer a blindfold. You can imagine him looking like he’s going to win at the Elbow and him not winning it. Johnnywho has a big, big chance, but he’s another who can throw in an error. Iroko got behind early last year and again in the Ultima, and I just don’t think the conditions suit him very well.

Panic Attack has been magic. It was her jumping that caught my eye when she won the Paddy Power Gold Cup, but she improved for the trip in the Coral Gold Cup and was just a bit out-pointed by Dinoblue in the Mares’ Chase last time. That was still a good prep for the Grand National, though. She has a good chance.

Finally, Haiti Couleurs. I gave him an outside chance in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, but it does appear that competitive handicaps suit him best. He won’t be far from the pace and he stays forever, is a solid jumper, and this looks to be his cup of tea. He’ll have plenty of company here, which will suit, and if you fancy him, then you should be in with a shout crossing the Melling Road.

1 Grangeclare West

2 Monty’s Star

3 I Am Maximus

4 Gorgeous Tom