I’m the UK’s best tipster – here are my top 2026 Grand National picks | Racing | Sport
Melissa, aka The Scout, is the current Racing Post National Press Challenge champion after she led the field of 11 tipsters to the finish in 2025. The stamina-sapping competition was based on more than 9,600 selections throughout the year. A good final furlong helped her cause, but Melissa has maintained her form – and set a new record by finishing top of the standings for a fourth month on the trot before tipping this year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Gaelic Warrior.
Young chaser QUAI DE BOURBON (4.00) is in the right spot to give Willie Mullins a straight Randox Grand National hat-trick at Aintree.
No horse older than nine has added their name to the £1million race’s roll of honour over the past decade, with Noble Yeats becoming the first seven-year-old to triumph since 1940 four years ago.
The 50-1 shot was handled by Emmet Mullins, whose chaser Soldier In Milan was in a league of his own in the Irish National at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday.
He might be the ride in 12 months’ time for Donagh Myler, who will be guiding the bid of my selection this afternoon, as they set out to cover a distance of four-and-a-quarter miles.
The Irish National has become an excellent guide to the prospects of Willie Mullins’ horses in today’s 30-fence contest, as winners Nick Rockett (2025) and I Am Maximus (2024) ran in it the previous season.
Burrows Saint (fourth in 2021) and Gaillard Du Mesnil (third in 2023) are others who have performed well and Quai De Bourbon, carrier of the famous Tiger Roll silks of Gigginstown House Stud, placed in it last April.
He has a big weights swing with the winner Haiti Couleurs for the margin he was beaten, and 10st 9lb looks a better weight than some, given he was still going well when he was brought down in the Grade One Mildmay Novices’ Chase at this fixture in 2025.
Quai De Bourbon appears to be peaking at the right time, putting in a shift for third in the Listed QuinnBet Handicap Chase at Leopardstown over an inadequate trip.
After he was passed, the horse belonging to Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary and his brother Eddie stayed on again, with cheekpieces successfully trialled for the big occasion.
Of the 10 horses on the initial shortlist, Monty’s Star is second choice, as he has Grade One form and Henry de Bromhead collected a minor medal with the identically-rated Minella Indo in 2024.
That year’s winner I Am Maximus tries to emulate legend Red Rum who carried the highest weight to victory in 1974 and should be in the mix again, while stablemate Champ Kiely is the pick of rider Danny Mullins.
The 10-year-old is a top-level chasing winner over 3m 1f, has the pace to keep in touch and conditions look ideal with minimal rain around.
