Ruby Walsh Grand National tips: Saturday bets at Aintree
By Ruby Walsh
Last Updated: Sat 5 Apr 2025
Ruby Walsh tipped four winners at Aintree on Thursday, with his nap (Murcia) landing the Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle in fine style!
Ruby has a selection for each race on day three of the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree on Saturday (via Paddy Power's From The Horse's Mouth Podcast), live on Racing TV.
For more insight from Ruby, make sure you watch Road To Aintree on Racing TV's YouTube page:
4.00 - Randox Grand National
Willie’s horses headed by last year’s winner I Am Maximus, Ruby?
I Am Maximus has obviously had the race as his target for quite a long time – the big difference is this year is he came here last year after winning the Drinmore.
He then had two runs in Leopardstown and he ran in the Bobbyjo. This year he’s coming here with half the runs, which I think ultimately affects your conditioning for a race like this.
He has a good chance, it’s been his target, and Paul is happy with him.
Nick Rockett has improved through the ranks, but he’s 15lb worse off with Intense Raffles for the Bobbyjo, and he only beat him three parts of a length, but he’s a Bobbyjo and a Thyestes winner plus he’s going the right way. He's by Walk In The Park, and he’ll actually improve for good ground
Grangeclare West ran a blinder in the Irish Gold Cup and then had to run in Navan to qualify for the race. He’d only had the five starts over fences, so I wouldn’t read too much into his last run.
He’s in great nick, I think he’ll jump and he’ll travel and he has a chance. I would struggle to see Appreciate It getting the trip myself even though he did win well at Thurles earlier in the year.
I think Minella Cocooner has a big chance. Johnny Burke rides. He was third in the Irish National last year and then went and won the bet365 Godl Cup. Four runs under his belt, but I think he’s been coming forward with every run this year, so I think he has an outstanding chance.
The other one is Meetingofthewaters. He didn’t quite stay last year, maybe he was a bit keen. Danny (Mullins) obviously thinks he can get the trip because he’s picked him over Minella Cocooner, so Danny’s the one giving me hope there.
For me he didn’t stay last year, and I struggle to see him staying this year, but Danny Mullins thinks he can.
Selection: I think Perceval Legallois is the one to be with myself. I thought he was a good winner of the Paddy Power. I think he’s got some cracking runs in all the right top handicap chases, and Gavin Cromwell’s horses are in great form. I really like the chance of Perceval Legallois.
I thought one at a huge price worth giving a shout to is Fil Dor. I could see him running into the money for Gordon Elliott, and I Am Maximus and Minella Cocooner, they’d be my two of Willie’s, but Perceval Legallois would be the number one pick.
3.05 - Ivy Liverpool Hurdle
Kitzbuhel stepping up in trip, will that suit?
Yeah, I’d say he probably was coming here for the Aintree Hurdle and then Constitution Hill was rerouted, and so was Lossiemouth, and he ended up in the three-mile hurdle.
He probably would have been out of his depth in that division and then there’s the question mark, will he really get three miles? He shapes like a stayer, he’s probably a horse who will get a trip in the future, but as a five-year-old, it’s a big ask to go and take on hardened competitors.
The likes of Teahupoo, The Wallpark, and even Home By The Lee are hardened, conditioned hurdlers. I just think it’s a big question for him. Ultimately, he could be the best horse, but I just don’t know if he is he hard enough to beat a Teahupoo right now, so I’m going to side with Teahupoo.
While I’d like to own Kitzbuhel, we’re here looking for winners, and I think it will probably be Teahupoo.
Selection: Teahupoo.
The rest of Ruby's tips for Saturday, including his nap of the day!
1.20 - William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap Hurdle
Selection: Bill Joyce.
1.55 - Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle
Selection: Good And Clever (each-way).
2.30 - William Hill Handicap Chase
Selection: Myretown.
5.00 - Rosconn Group Maghull Novices’ Chase
Selection: Only By Night.
5.35 - Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Bumper
Selection: El Cairos
Ruby Walsh's nap of the day at Aintree on Saturday:
My nap at Aintree is El Cairos in the bumper.
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