Grand National 2026

LECKY WATSON 1pt win

Best price 33/1 at the time of publishing.

The Grand National weights have just been announced and it has put two horses on my radar for the big race in March. Lecky Watson, who won the 2025 Brown Advisory at the Cheltenham Festival to me looks like an ideal candidate for the race.

From the get go this season, Willie Mullins had spoken ab out this gelding in the sense of a Grand National horse rather than a Gold Cup horse and that is very significant. The reason as to why, is because it means his campaign has been carefully mapped out with the one big race in mind from the get go this season. He is highly likely to be well handicapped for that reason too, and if you dive into his pedigree, he does look destined for one of these big races.

He is by Valirann, who has produced plenty of stayers, including Welsh Grand National winner Val Dancer, so even though Lecky Watson is a Grade 1 winning chaser, it could be that he improves over the marathon trip. Come March, this Willie Mullins trained runner will be right up in the pecking order, and I think he will run a huge race.

Now is the time to back him, because the 11st 2lb looks very workable for this potential improver. 

OSCAR’S BROTHER - 1pt win

Best price 33/1 at the time of publishing.

My second selection is Oscar’s Brother, a gelding trained by Connor King and now carrying the colours of JP McManus. He’s a very likeable type who has really progressed this season. He is on a stretch of three straight wins, including two comfortable successes at Grade 2 level.

He’s beaten solid yardsticks like Koktail Divin and The Wallpark, and in doing so has shaped like there’s still more left in the tank. He’s improving, and importantly, he’s doing it the right way. Next up is the Brown Advisory, the very race won last year by Lecky Watson.

Whether he’s quite good enough to land it remains to be seen, but that’s not really the point. For me, Oscar’s Brother looks every inch a proper old-school Grand National type. He jumps for fun, he’s versatile ground-wise, and he just gallops and gallops and gallops.

I’d be very surprised if stepping up in trip didn’t bring about further improvement, and off a mark of 155 carrying 10st 13lb, he looks more than workable to my eye.

He’s well worth a shout. A proper, likeable steeplechaser with the right profile for the big one. Connor King, his trainer, has confirmed the plan too