HAITI Couleurs became the first British-trained winner of the BoyleSports Irish Grand National for more than a decade when capitalising on an attractive novice rating 12 months ago, and bookmakers appear to be fearing another visitor most in the 2026 renewal.

The case for Ben Pauling’s The Jukebox Kid looks a pretty obvious one on paper. A seven-year-old with a completely unexposed look to him, winning three of his four starts over fences, and racing off just 3lb higher than Haiti Couleurs last year - this looks a smart piece of placing from the trainer responsible for recently landing a big handicap at the Cheltenham Festival with Meetmebythesea.

This bold jumper looks to have plenty going for him at 7/1. That said, if there is something to raise as a slight concern about his credentials, he faced just two rivals when bossing the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase from the front when last seen in February so Easter Monday is bound to be a completely different type of test in a packed field.

One thing I’m keen to look for in this race is a horse with the tactical ability to get forward early and establish a prominent position. It might sound odd to hone in on this fact strongly when there are 24 fences coming up over three miles and five furlongs to work your way into the race, but history is telling us a handy spot can count for an awful lot. It definitely helps when it comes to avoiding trouble in-running in such a congested field.

Handy work

With the exception of the unorthodox I Am Maximus, who was thrown in off a mark of 149/weight of 11st 1lb anyway in 2023, each of the last five winners have been right up in the firing line early. Last year, the eventual 1-2-3-6 could all be spotted in the first six runners jumping the first fence. Haiti Couleurs was vying for the lead. A year earlier, in the renewal won by Intense Raffles, five of the first six home were in the top seven or eight leading the field at the first.

Shock 2022 winner Lord Lariat led the field over the opening obstacle and it was a similar story 12 months earlier when Freewheelin Dylan was nearly in front - and five of the first six home were in the first seven places early on.

Now, if all riders buy into this tactic, there is the obvious potential for an overcorrection and a pace burn up in front, but, for now I’m going to focus on horses with the potential to be ridden forward.

The Jukebox Kid very much ticks that box, and Emmet Mullins’ Soldier In Milan showed two starts ago that he can do the same too. He looks a real lively player off a mark of 142 (weight of 11st) in the Paul Byrne colours.

A minimum of four runs are required in order to line up in this race, and this smart stayer satisfied the criteria with his most recent start at Thurles.

On the face of it, it couldn’t be considered a promising run, but he was ridden in complete contrast to how he won at Punchestown a few weeks earlier over two miles and seven furlongs, finishing a length and a half in front of the useful Kiss Will, who reopposes here.

Progress possible

His bumper form from last season at the Punchestown Festival looks a whole lot better now, with runner-up King Rasko Grey going on to Grade 1 honours at the Cheltenham Festival. With just five starts to his name under rules, and already up to a solid rating, it’s possible there’s a fair bit more to come from him, and his form suggests he’s ground-versatile enough. It’s been encouraging to see money trickling in for him throughout the week too.

C’est Ta Chance, who won the Grade 3 event at Thurles that Soldier In Milan finished fourth in last time, rates a solid contender, and it wouldn’t be a shock if he ended up being the mount of Paul Townend, despite being a 33/1 chance on Monday just gone. He’s now only 10/1 and that looks a much fairer representation of his chances.

A half-length separated the same rivals in a tactical beginners’ chase over two and a half miles at Gowran on Thyestes day, and the form of that race was bolstered when runner-up King Alexander, who split them, won well at Gowran next time out and finished fourth in the Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Like Soldier In Milan and The Jukebox Kid, he’s a seven-year-old and will bid to provide Willie Mullins with a third Irish National in the space of seven runnings. Owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede are also chasing a second victory in the Fairyhouse feature in three years.

At much bigger prices, having been a 50/1 shot earlier this week and now 33/1, Flicker Of Hope might be a slightly forgotten horse.

All season, it’s felt like this race might end up being his ultimate target and, had he not disappointed when last seen in a Naas Grade 3 in January, a case can be made that he’d be close to the head of the market here.

Regarding that last start, it was coming just 16 days after he won a similar event on demanding ground at the same venue - likely too soon to see the best of him.

And, like Soldier In Milan, his last start would have been necessary in order to guarantee qualification for the race.

His weight of 11st (rated 142) looks fair, and his winning form with decent benchmark Bossofthebrownies back in third two starts ago makes him of appeal. Don’t be surprised if he outruns his odds, especially if the rain arrives.

Irish Grand National selections

1. Soldier In Milan 9/1

2. Flicker Of Hope 33/1

3. The Jukebox Kid 7/1

4. C’est Ta Chance 10/1

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Sponsors bet: 6 The Jukebox Kid, 8 Argento Boy, C'est Ta Chance, Soldier In Milan, 10 Kiss Will, 14 Better Days Ahead, Uhavemeinstitches, 16 Flicker Of Hope, Better Times Ahead, Goaibhmaithagat, Showurappreciation, One Big Bang, 20 bar.