Key Points
- My best betting tip for Sunday can give Gavin Cromwell another Ulster National win
- He is handicapped to strike, running off a 9lb lower mark than last year
- He’s at his best on better ground and the weather gods look to be playing ball
This article is focused on my best betting tip for today’s racing action and it comes in the Ulster National. As well as bringing you my Sunday NAP, I will also go through the reasoning behind my selection and suggest which bookmaker to use!
If you haven’t already come across my articles, be sure to have a look at my previous ones. I would specifically recommend you check out my antepost selection for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival, as that bet remains active whereas some will be for past events. As well as my NAP for today, I will provide Aintree Festival coverage next week, so be sure to tune back in for that!
Betting advice
- 16:05 Downpatrick -
Peaches And Cream
@ 11/2 -
0.75pt each way
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Peaches And Cream is the standout horse for Sunday’s action!
Over at Downpatrick, Peaches And Cream is the standout bet for me when looking through today’s cards. Gavin Cromwell likes to target this race and has a trio of horses in here but Peaches And Cream is a proven horse that is also handicapped to win.
Peaches And Cream can give Gavin Cromwell another Ulster National win and redemption for last year!
From 2015 to 2021, Gavin Cromwell only had two runners in this race and they could only manage seventh and fifth. However, he won back to back renewals in 2022 and 2023 with Spades Are Trumps and Malinas Girl. As well as winning the race in 2022, he also had the third place with Peaches And Cream.
Last year, he had two darts at the race - Ask Anything and Peaches And Cream again. He must have been pinching himself coming to the last two jumps as his two runners were first and second! Ask Anything rose first over the second last but Peaches And Creams was coming to launch his attack. Unfortunately, that was where things began to unravel.
Peaches And Cream crumpled on landing, and came down at the last, so his race was over. As if that wasn’t a big enough blow, Ask Anything then idled when left alone at the front and was collared by Jumping Jet, handing the Ulster National to Gordon Elliott! So Gavin Cromwell went from looking like he had the first two places in the bag, to not having the winner at the line.
This year, I think he gets redemption, and regains his Ulster National crown, to land a third win in the race over the last four years. He is clearly keen on that idea as he has three horses lining up this time - the same two as last year, with Final Orders being the new addition! I think Peaches And Cream is the one to be on!
He is handicapped to strike and will take some beating today!
Peaches And Cream knows this race well after being third in the 2022 renewal and then right in contention when falling at the last in the 2024 renewal. In the 2022 race, he was actually lucky to make it past the first fence as he was bumped in mid air and badly hampered. Fortunately he survived that incident, where two others did come down. He recovered well though and finished in third off a mark of 125.
That was his first experience beyond 3m and he actually won the Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Chase over 3m 7f on his next outing by 11 lengths off the same mark of 125. Interestingly after winning that race at Punchestown, Gavin Cromwell said he left him a bit short for the Ulster National, so that run deserves marking up.
He missed the 2023 Ulster National, but he returned for last year’s renewal. He was 4lb higher that time around but Conor Stone-Walsh took off a valuable 5lb and he seemed to have every chance until he went sprawling after the last. That felt cruel as he would have certainly been placed, perhaps even have won.
He comes back for his third attempt this year off a mark of 120, having previously run off 125 in 2022, and 129 in 2024. As well as this much lower mark, Patrick M O’Brien has been booked to ride and he takes a further 7lb off, so he effectively races off just 113. Initially allotted 10st 6lb, Peaches and Cream will only carry 9st 13lb with Patrick in the saddle.
He looked to retain his ability as recently as October, when producing a RPR of 131 off a mark of 130 up at Kelso, and this has likely been the long term plan for him. If he puts his best foot forward off this mark, he must have an enormous chance.
The going looks to be in his favour with him preferring better ground!
Judged on RPRs, three of Peaches And Cream’s best four runs have come on Good or Good to Soft ground, so he certainly seems to be at his best on a sounder surface. Therefore, the current going of Good to Yielding looks ideal for him! It was similar ground for last year’s renewal and he was in the process of running a career best when coming down.
As well as the ground coming right for Peaches And Cream, I also think some of these would want softer conditions and whilst it would be a plus for our horse, the better ground would be a negative for them. Three that would fit firmly in that category are Dunboyne, Gold Cup Bailly and Stormy Judge.
Celebrate with some Peaches And Cream!
All things considered, I think Peaches And Cream has an exceptional chance of making it third time lucky in this Ulster National if he puts his best foot forward. He will certainly be very dangerous off what is effectively 113 with Patrick M O’Brien’s 7lb claim despite being 10 now. Patrick has ridden him well before when he took the reins at Cheltenham back in November 2023 on unsuitable ground, with the pair finishing fifth.
We know Gavin Cromwell has targeted this race in recent years and the ground has come up in his favour. He has plenty of experience over marathon trips, and especially in this race, so there are no doubts when it comes to stamina, unlike for some others. After last year’s unlucky tumble when looking fantastic, I hope Peaches and Cream can get some redemption here for himself and for Gavin Cromwell!
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I am currently producing four articles every week for Betting.co.uk, mostly betting tips, but also some feature pieces like big race trends. I usually post my best bet of the day here, but the majority of my betting tips can only be found on my Discord server.
The Discord community
allows you to get involved in what is effectively a huge group chat of like-minded individuals that all love their racing!
On Friday, we saw a 4.7pt profit in the Discord, which is a profit of £47.00 to £10 stakes with a 9/1 winner and places at 11/1 and 7/1! More details about these tips and the write ups for them can be found on my X account - @RacingGav if you want to know more.
I hope to see you there!
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