Rubi Ball (nearest) pictured in action over hurdles at Thurles© Photo Healy Racing
Rubi Ball could be a surprise package from the Willie Mullins stable in the Crabbie's Grand National.
The champion jumps trainer has revealed he will give the French import an entry in the world's greatest steeplechase at Aintree in April.
The Irish Hennessy and Cheltenham Gold Cup are other possible targets for the eight-year-old, who showed top-class form to finish third to Bobs Worth in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown.
"He probably needs more of a test of stamina, but that was very soft ground," Mullins told At The Races.
"The Gold Cup is a possibility. He's won a Grade One race in France and he'll certainly get an entry in it.
"The Irish Hennessy would be somewhere to run, but he looks like he is well capable of taking up entries in any of those Grade One staying chases.
"He would get an entry in the Grand National. I possibly should have had a rating for him before he ran the other day, but he was sent over here to win big races.
"Sometimes you can mind horses for the Grand National, but that wasn't the objective with this fellow coming over here. It was just to see what he could do in Ireland or England.
"He's got a low rating over hurdles and I think he might not have been rated that high over fences. I might have missed a beat there with him. I'm happy if he's good enough to go on and be a good horse here."
