We are less than a week away from the Aintree Grand National, and today, Downpatrick is treating us to a Mother’s Day treat as we warm up for the world’s most famous steeple chase with the Ulster Grand National.
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Ulster National runner by runner betting Guide
Now, let’s delve into all 15 runners and point you in the right direction to find the winner of the Ulster National.
1 Bronn
- Age: 8
- Weight: 11st 12lb
- Form: PP-5PF
- Rating: 140
- Jockey: Darragh O’Keeffe
- Trainer: Thomas Gibney
Having once threatened to turn himself into a Graded staying chaser, Bronn has failed to live up to the billing that once followed him around. He has been a shell of what he promised to be, and the change of trainer from Willie Mullins to Thomas Gibney has done little to solve his issue.
Once rated as high as 155, and now down to a mark of 140, and based on what he has produced over the past 16 months, he still looks too high in the handicap. He’s easy to pass over until he starts showing some spark of revival.
Formally Grade 1 placed
In terrible form
Star rating: 
2 Final Order
- Age: 9
- Weight: 11st 7lb
- Form: 470063
- Rating: 135
- Jockey: Keith Donoghue
- Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
Having shown signs of a rerival on his latest start, Final Orders has suddenly become an interesting runner for a trainer who is having a season to remember.
His last win came off 140, and now off a 5 lb lower mark, he looks capable of having a say in a race where the set-up will suit. He’s not one to discount off this mark.
Well handicapped on old form Needs to back up his latest run
Star rating:
3 Run Wild Fred
- Age: 11
- Weight: 11st 7lb
- Form: PBP-52
- Rating: 135
- Jockey: Adian Kelly (5)
- Trainer: Raymond Hurley
Formerly a high-class performer over fences for Gordon Elliott, Run Wild Fred’s has been on a steep decline in recent months. He is having his first start for Raymond Hurley, but this mark looks beyond him at this stage of his career.
But if the change of scenery has the desired effect, he may be able to roll back the years.
Former high-class chaser Has been a shell of his former self
Star rating:
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4 Gold Cup Bailly
- Age: 9
- Weight: 11st 5lb
- Form: /P-346
- Rating: 133
- Jockey: J J Slevin
- Trainer: S R B Crawford
Gold Cup Bailly is a much better chaser than a hurdler, but he has found it hard to get his head back in front since starting his chasing career off with a back when winning his first three starts. In fairness, he has been highly tried after the last of those three wins, and even though he was beaten by over 9 lengths at Ayr in January, he stuck to the task well.
The handicapper has generously dropped him 5 lb for that run, giving Gold Cup Bailly more than a live chance here. The step back up in trip looks sure to suit back in this kind of company, and have a live chance of collecting the main prize here.
Looks to be on a good mark Hasn’t won for over two years
Star rating:
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5 Ask Anything
- Age: 7
- Weight: 11st 1lb
- Form: -FP949
- Rating: 129
- Jockey: Kevin Sexton
- Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
Having been sent off as a well-backed favourite for this last season, Ask Anything has really struggled to match that form since, but he is now back down to a mark of just 1 lb higher than last season.
This would have been Ask Anything’s long-term plan, and it would be no surprise if he left all of this season’s form well behind him. But even so, he does look like the second choice of Gavin Cromwell’s two runners.
Narrowly beaten in this last season Has been in poor form since his 2nd in this last season
Star rating:
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6 Dunboyne
- Age: 10
- Weight: 10st 13lb
- Form: PPP-P1
- Rating: 127
- Jockey: James Smith (5)
- Trainer: Ian Patrick Donoghue
From the depths of obscurity to the winner’s encouragement, just like that, Dunboyne made a winner start for his new trainer when he caused a 66/1 upset at Navan at the beginning of the month.
Given that he had more letters than numbers in his form leading up to his stable debut, there were zero signs that he was about to bounce back to form. Dunboyne, not for the first time, made a fool out of his connections, but this time for all the right reasons.
If that win has suddenly sparked him back into life, then he is well handicapped on his short-head 2nd in the 2023 Thyestes Chase. It’s impossible to trust him but impossible to rule him out.
Bounced right back to form for his new stable Impossible to trust
Star rating:
7 So Des Flos
- Age: 8
- Weight: 10st 13lb
- Form: 12-P80
- Rating: 127
- Jockey: Sam Ewing
- Trainer: Gordon Elliott
A test like this looks sure to suit So Des Flos, and even though he has been beating a total of 70 lengths in his two starts this year, there is every chance that he could bounce back to form over this trip.
He has two wins to his name over fences, but interestingly, both of those wins have come when ridden by Charlotte Butler. Even though he is 3 lb higher than for his win at Fairyhouse on this day last year, he is hard to rule out for last season’s winning trainer.
Two of his three wins have come on this exact day in the past two years Needs to leave two huge defeats behind him
Star rating:
8 Jumping Jet
- Age: 9
- Weight: 10st 10lb
- Form: 66602-
- Rating: 124
- Jockey: Danny Gilligan
- Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Jumping Jet won this off a 3 lb lower mark last season and comes here on the back of a satisfactory return to action when chasing home stablemate Favori De Champdou at Down Royal two weeks ago.
Since that run, he has dropped 2 lb and will have come on plenty as he aims to win back-to-back Ulster Nationals.
Last year’s winner Needs to leave two huge defeats behind him
Star rating:
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9 Stormy Judge
- Age: 10
- Weight: 10st 8lb
- Form: 508UU0
- Rating: 122
- Jockey: Harry Sexton (7)
- Trainer: P A Fahy
This looks like a tall order for this 10-year-old and is easily overlooked. He has shown no sign of any creditable form that would see him getting involved today.
Well handicapped on old form Looks badly out of form for over a year
Star rating:
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10 Brazil
- Age: 7
- Weight: 10st 7lb
- Form: -9769P
- Rating: 121
- Jockey: Mark Walsh
- Trainer: Padraig Roche
The Brazil we see now is a far cry from the one that beat Gaelic Warrior in the 2022 Fred Winter at the Cheltenham Festival.
He is 0/5 over fences and has only managed to get within 20 lengths of the winner in those five starts, but he is now 16 lb lower than when beating the now multi-Grade 1 winner. Now, being owned by JP McManus, this could have been a long-term plan and is the pick of Mark Walsh. It wouldn’t be the biggest shock in the world for Brazil to leave all his previous chase from well behind him here.
Extremely well handicapped on his old hurdle form
Hasn’t taken to chasing yet.
Star rating:
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11 Bodhisattva
- Age: 8
- Weight: 10st 6lb
- Form: P822U7
- Rating: 120
- Jockey: Alex Harvey (5)
- Trainer: John McConnell
Bodhisattva was 3rd in this last season off a 1 lb lower mark and came into last year’s renewal on the back of a similar below-par run. You can forgive him for his latest run in the Midlands National, as the ground went against him and was not good/soft ground as advertised.
He is back in calmer waters today and should be capable of putting up a bold showing today.
Placed in this last season Need to leave his latest below-par run behind
Star rating:
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12 Iris Emery
- Age: 7
- Weight: 10st 6lb
- Form: F23363
- Rating: 120
- Jockey: Paul Townend
- Trainer: Willie Mullins
Even though Iris Emery is still a maiden over fences after eight career starts, it has encountered some capable performers. She got within 3/4 of a length to now two-time Grade 1 winner Croke Park and then followed home now Listed winner Spindleberry and easy Grade 3 winner Fun Fun Fun.
She has been beaten off this mark in her last two runs, but she has already shown that she can be a lot better than this mark. Now back in calmer waters after a creditable 3rd in the Dublin National at Leopardstown, Iris Emery may be about to break her duck over fences.
More than capable of winning off this mark 0/8 over fences
Star rating:
13 Peaches And Cream
- Age: 10
- Weight: 10st 6lb
- Form: 0P3P07
- Rating: 120
- Jockey: Patrick M O’Brien (7)
- Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
Peaches And Cream looked to be about to take up the lead at the last in this last season, only to fall and leave the race at the mercy of Jumping Jet.
He is now 9 lb lower than when taking that fall and has shown that he is still capable of running well when 4th behind Elvis Mail at Kelso in a Class 2 handicap chase. Patrick O’Brien takes a further 7 lb off his back, and Peachs And Cream looks too well handicapped to ignore.
Would have won this last season off a 9 lb lower mark Need to put two back-to-back poor runs behind him
Star rating:
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14 Hands Of Gold
- Age: 7
- Weight: 10st 0lb
- Form: 88P-FP
- Rating: 114
- Jockey: Simob Torrens
- Trainer: A L T Moore
This looks to be a ‘we have nothing to lose’ move with Hands Of Gold as he takes a massive step up in trip here. Anything he has shown so far over fences would suggest that he needs to find a massive jolt of improvement over this new trip to get involved in the places, let alone winning.
This trip could spark big improvement Has shown nothing to suggest that he can win this
Star rating:
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15 Ringdufferin
- Age: 7
- Weight: 10st 0lb
- Form: -0PF60
- Rating: 114
- Jockey: Jake Coen (3)
- Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Ringdufferin is impossible to fancy and is easily overlooked here.
Hard find any positives Out of his depth on all known form
Star rating:
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Randox Ulster National verdict
This year’s running of the Ulster National has the makings of a cracking renewal as the top 3 of last season meet once again. They all have their chance of being bang there, as well as Peaches And Cream who may have won this last season only to fall at the last when making his challenge. But, the one that can be worth siding with here is IRIS EMERY.
She has been in fine form this season and has been unlucky to have bumped into above-average rivals. Now back in calmer waters after a fine 3rd in the Dublin National, she can get off the mark over fences at the ninth time of asking.
About the author
Andrew Halligan
My name is Andrew Halligan, horse racing pundit and founder of YouTube’s The Finishing Line Podcast. Horse racing is a thrilling spectacle that captivates audiences around the world with its blend of drama and excitement. Whether you’re a jumps or flat fan, I will use my experience of working within the horse racing industry to bring the best of what this sport has to offer.
You can follow Andrew on X (@Halligan88).
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