TEMPLEGATE tackles the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse confident of having found the winner from a stacked field.
He goes through every runner below before revealing his 1-2-3-4 prediction and all-important tip.
Our top tipster rates every horse out of five stars to one in the 5pm contest.
And you can back any horse you fancy simply by clicking their odds below.
Templegate’s Irish Grand National runner-by-runner guide
BETTER DAYS AHEAD 3
HAPPY Days. Sixth in this last year off same weight and solid Graded form this season. Has top amateur and has place shout.
SEARCH FOR GLORY 2
SEARCH on. Might have won the Ultima but for unseating at the last and goes well here. Likes soft but is on long losing run.
ARGENTO BOY 4
BOY wonder. Progressive novice but didn’t fire at Chelt. Shapes like this marathon will suit and likes soft. Could bounce back.
JOYSTICK 2
LITTLE Joy. Fair run at Cheltenham and tongue tie goes on. Stays well but best on heavy ground so rain would help.
THE JUKEBOX KID 4
NO Kidding. Progressive chaser who shapes like a stayer and handles any ground. Likes right-handed tracks and mark is fair.
RUSHMOUNT 1
NO Rush. Easy Thurles winner over 2m5f but well held at Cheltenham and needs more.
YEAH MAN 1
NO Man. Has been hurdling with mixed results and unseated in this last year. Not won since 2024.
C’EST TA CHANCE 3
FAIR Chance. Progressive novice with two wins, stays well and relishes soft. Big step up in trip but open to improvement. Major player if staying.
FLICKER OF HOPE 2
MODEST Hope. Landed a couple of novice wins before coming up short in a Naas G3. Stays but this is tougher so needs more.
SOLDIER IN MILAN 3
SOLDIER on. Beat Kiss Will in Feb before poor run in Thurles G3. Will relish going up to this trip and likes soft. More to come.
MONBEG GENIUS 4
GENIUS looks clever. Back to form when third in Kim Muir. Has proven stamina for marathon trips and soft suits. Down weights with each-way shout.
SHECOULDBEANYTHING 1
Consistent mare but shaped as non-stayer over similar distance. Ground fine but stamina doubts.
KISS WILL 4
BIG Kiss. Consistent novice who is the pick of Paul Townend from the Mullins team and shapes like this trip will suit. Fair weight and big say if staying.
VELVET ELVIS 1
ELVIS off key. Out of form this term with multiple pulled ups. Very hard to make any case here.
ONE BIG BANG 5
BANG on. Good run in NH Chase at Chelt and early days over fences. Fair weight, likes soft and UK champ up. Every chance.
GORAIBHMAITHAGAT 4
HURRY Harry. Good second in Leinster Nat and stays well. Cobden rides and in each-way hunt.
KARIA DES BLAISES 3
DES res. Impressive Listed win latest but that was over 2m5f so stamina not assured. Capable of better at a big price.
BETTER TIMES AHEAD 4
TIMES right. Tuned up over hurdles but is a handy staying chaser on soft ground. Proven over the trip and won’t be far away.
HARTUR D’ARC 1
HART ache. Out of form for a long time and hard to fancy.
KURASSO BLUE 2
BLUE in stew. Didn’t stay in NH Cup at Chel and first-time cheekpieces need to work wonders.
THE ENABLER 1
EN for no. Didn’t get home when sixth in Kim Muir and best form over shorter trips.
DUFFLE COAT 1
DUFF bet. Pulled up in this last year and poor all runs since.
O’TOOLE 2
BLUNT Toole. Game listed winner latest over 2m5f but stays a bit further. Lightly raced over fences but needs more for this.
SA MAJESTE 2
SA needs teeth. Good third in Leinster Nat latest but pulled up in this last year. Will need a big personal best to figure.
SHOWURAPPRECIATION 4
SHOW goes on. Landed a hat-trick over 3m at Navan latest and should get further. One of least exposed in the field and high on the shortlist.
WESTERN WALK 1
WALK off. Yet to win over fences and held in modest company last time. Shapes like a stayer but needs more.
WEVEALLBEENCAUGHT 2
CAUGHT short. Thorough stayer who was just getting going at end of the Kim Muir last time. Fair weight and will keep going but in his own time.
BORN BRAVER 4
BORN to run. Impressive Ulster National winner who has a light weight here even before his rider takes off 7lb. Likes some cut and one of the better outsiders.
SHANBALLY KID 2
KID a kidder. Won over 3m5f at Punchestown last May but can make mistakes and has been poor since. Needs his very best.
WATERFORD WHISPERS 3
WATER works. Was fancied for the Kim Muir before finishing eighth when hampered. Too early to write him off as a stayer and he looks a big price.
Templegate’s Irish Grand National tip and 1-2-3-4 prediction
ONE BIG BANG can make a noise in the Irish Grand National (5.00 Fairyhouse).
British champion jockey Sean Bowen takes over on this eight-year-old who was a good third in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham last time.
He should have no problem getting home at Fairyhouse and looks on a fair weight to go close at each-way odds.
Kiss Will has Paul Townend on board and should enjoy this test, while Ulster National winner Born Braver looks a huge price to make the frame.
The likes of Argento Boy, Goraibhmaithagat and Showurappreciation are also in the mix.
1st One Big Bang
2nd Kiss Will
3rd Born Braver
4th Goraibhmaithagat
FREE BETS – GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org.
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chases their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org
Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
