THE JUKEBOX KID HEADS TO THE IRISH NATIONAL

'He’s been talked up recently, more by the Irish than anyone else, but he’s got a profile similar to last year's winner Haiti Couleurs'

Ben Pauling is hoping Irish National favourite The Jukebox Kid can fly the flag for Britain on Easter Monday

Racing Post | Maddy Playle: 29th March 2026

Ben Pauling believes his BoyleSports Irish Grand National favourite The Jukebox Kid could not be in better form as the trainer prepares to attempt an audacious National double.

He added to his Cheltenham Festival tally when saddling Meetmebythesea to win the Jack Richards Novices' Handicap Chase this month and is targeting another big prize at Fairyhouse on April 6.

The Jukebox Kid, a comfortable winner of the Reynoldstown Novices' Chase, has come in for market support in recent weeks and is 8-1 favourite to make it back-to-back victories for British trainers in as many years following Haiti Couleurs 12 months ago.
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Pauling believes the pair share several qualities, saying: "He couldn’t be better. He has a very progressive novice profile; he’s inexperienced for the race having only run six times in his life, but if he gets into a rhythm he’s the sort of horse that keeps finding plenty. I think he’ll stay very well.

"He’s been talked up recently, more by the Irish than anyone else, but he’s got a profile similar to Haiti Couleurs last year. I’m not surprised he’s fancied, whether he should be favourite, time will tell. 

"I’ve had my eye on the race since he beat Montregard at Ascot in January. I thought that was a good performance and I think he’s better right-handed than left at the moment. This looked like the obvious option over the National Hunt Chase."

Pauling is waiting to see if his Becher Chase winner Twig will secure a run in the Randox Grand National at Aintree. The 11-year-old, a 66-1 chance, needs three horses to be taken out of the race to get a run and after two wins from two starts over fences this season, Pauling is confident he can improve on last year's tenth behind Nick Rockett.


"Hopefully he'll get in," he said. "We still need three to come out. Some people think it’ll happen but I’m on the other side, I think when you get to this stage everybody that’s in the 34 is going to be desperately keen to run. 


"The Irish National may pull a few out because there’s more of a tussle for the championship over that side of the Irish Sea, and that might mean that a few of the Irish horses end up there rather than at Aintree.


"He’s in better form than he was last year and he had a lovely prep run the other day at Uttoxeter. He’s two from two this season in the Becher and Masters Chase. I’m very happy with him physically and he’s moving well. 
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"It’s a very big ask, but I do think he can be more competitive than he was last year if he's ridden more positively. He's the sort of horse that would have had a cracking chance ten years ago."