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17:20Champion Bumper
Champion Bumper
17:20 Cheltenham Festival
2026-03-11
Winner: £45,560
Runners: 21
Going: Good
No. of hurdles:
Distance:
The Weatherbys Champion Bumper takes place on day two of the Cheltenham Festival and is the only race at the meeting during which no obstacles are jumped. It is for horses who are yet to begin their jumping careers and has been the starting point for many top-class hurdlers and chasers, including King George winners Florida Pearl and Cue Card.
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1(0)
11
Bass Hunter
-
J: Freddie Gordon
T: Chris Gordon
6
11-7
126
133
Not an instant success in Irish points but 2-2 in bumpers despite free-going tendencies evident in both; made all at Newbury (good to soft) and repeated the trick at Ascot (soft) where he was in splendid isolation for large parts of the race before predictably tiring late on; that form has taken a battering but he was much the best of that field; should similar tactics be employed, it may help that this race is often slowly run; highly regarded and much respected.
15(0)
2-1
The Wager
-
J: Miss J Townend
T: W P Mullins
5
11-7
115
119
Debut defeat was for a different yard; his narrow success at Fairyhouse (yielding) wasn't pretty and the RPR nothing to boast about; probably lacks the star potential of some in here and Patrick Mullins (aboard last time) presumably agrees.
8(0)
11
Keep Him Company
-
J: Jack Kennedy
T: Gordon Elliott
6
11-7
127
136
It was a timely point win last March as 12 days later he fetched £220,000 at the sales here on the eve of the Gold Cup; so far so good under rules having won both his bumpers, in the latest at Leopardstown (good to yielding) looking stronger the further he went (Topspeed figure sets the standard here); powerful owners have never prioritised this race but they might be warming to it having had the third two years ago (their best finish from nine runners) and the favourite last year; interesting.
16(0)
13
Vango Can Go
-
J: Charlie Todd
T: Dan Skelton
5
11-7
118
120
Second in a 3m Irish point on good to yielding; Charlie Todd has been aboard for both his bumpers (soft), when winning well at Southwell but then 5l behind Bass Hunter at Ascot where Tally Ho Back was also ahead of him; could reverse placings with the second but there's obvious no reason why he'll be any closer to the winner of that race.
10(0)
451
Of Land And Sea
-
J: Richard Condon
T: Paul Hennessy
5
11-7
119
126
Patrick Mullins has been aboard for all his three runs but isn't here; impressed at Limerick last time (heavy) and his RPR was nothing to be sniffed at, despite Mullins keeping so wide that he ventured onto an AW strip that circled the track; sure to win more races but this is unlikely to be one of them.
18(0)
412
With Nolimit
-
J: Mr H C Swan
T: Gordon Elliott
5
11-7
129
137
With his dam closely related to a Welsh National winner, it was no surprise to see him finishing well when narrowly failing to reel in Broadway Ted in a Grade 2 at Leopardstown; useful but Gordon Elliott has made it clear that the same owner's Keep Him Company is the yard's principal hope.
12(0)
1
The Irish Avatar
-
J: Harry Cobden
T: W P Mullins
5
11-7
124
133
Snapped up for £200,000 soon after finishing second in an Irish point last spring (winner absent since); reappeared in January for an all-the-way 9l victory on soft to heavy at Navan where Patrick Mullins barely pressed the accelerator pedal; that effort looks all the more striking now with the runner-up winning comfortably the following month; it's all guesswork in gauging how good he might be, but Mullins prefers Love Sign d'Aunou.
2(0)
21
Boycetown
-
J: Keith Donoghue
T: Gavin Cromwell
5
11-7
128
123
Cost 120,000euros after finishing second in an Irish point; he took the field apart to win by clear daylight at Down Royal (yielding) but It's Only A Game comfortably had his measure the time before; this 5yo has him to worry about and others; tongue-tie added.
14(0)
1
The Skecher
-
J: Tristan Durrell
T: Dan Skelton
5
11-7
116
121
Ground it out from the front at Ayr (soft) when making a successful debut for Dan Skelton, who considers him a "big, galloping type"; whether he possesses the required gears to mix it with the best of these is unlikely.
9(0)
1
Love Sign d'Aunou
-
J: Mr P W Mullins
T: W P Mullins
5
11-7
127
138
Has a strikingly similar profile to the stable's 2024 winner Jasmin De Vaux, who also won a point winner before scooting home in the same Naas bumper (2m2f, heavy) that this 5yo won by 24l (made all; 5-4 favourite); perhaps he didn't beat a lot but it looked good and top connections committed to Cheltenham straight after; trainer has won this 14 times and it sounds as though this runner is right up the pecking order in his five-strong squad; Patrick Mullins rides; "could be anything" tag definitely applies here.
7(0)
214
It's Only A Game
-
J: Mr J L Gleeson
T: Martin Brassil
5
11-7
129
133
Much too good for Boycetown at Punchestown (soft to heavy; first run in a tongue-tie that's been retained) and, although his bubble was burst to some extent at Leopardstown (heavy), he did get noticeably warm beforehand and probably wasn't seen to best effect held up off modest fractions; can do better, and probably a lot better.
21(0)
1
Quiryn
-
J: Paul Townend
T: W P Mullins
4
10-11
125
135
Predominantly Flat bred but there are jumpers in the family; another unexposed Willie Mullins runner who won without a care in the world at Naas (soft) and he has the scope to get better; however, while ten previous winners of this had raced once, only Cue Card has won as a 4yo since 1995; Paul Townend rides.
5(0)
116
Chicker
-
J: Jonathan Burke
T: Fergal O'Brien
5
11-7
121
121
His wins at Worcester and here came on good ground, so perhaps the soft surface found him out when only sixth in a Listed race back here in November; however, on all his form, this looks three bridges too far.
13(0)
1
The Mourne Rambler
-
J: Colin Keane
T: Noel Meade
5
11-7
126
132
Beaten in his only point; Noel Meade has done well with other members of the dam's family; it was a traditionally strong bumper he won at Leopardstown over Christmas (yielding) and he was extending his superiority at the line; a formline through the third puts this 5yo on a par with Keep Him Company; aided by the assistance of star Flat jockey Colin Keane, he's an intriguing runner.
22(0)
121
Mets Ta Ceinture
-
J: Harry Skelton
T: Dan Skelton
4
10-4
110
127
Three runs in French bumpers at around 1m4f on ground ranging from good to soft to heavy (all in a tongue-tie that's now dispensed with); well on top for the wins and she was beaten by a smart prospect when close up in a Grade 2 in October; it took a whopping 710,000euros to secure her services and Harry Skelton prefers her over the stable's other two runners; she's a 4yo filly receiving all the allowances and three females have won this since 2017, albeit older ones.
11(0)
426
Tally Ho Back
-
J: Sam Twiston-Davies
T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
5
11-7
123
124
Flattered to finish a length behind the trailblazing Bass Hunter at Ascot and he was then a disappointing favourite at Windsor (again on soft); no maiden has ever won this race.
6(0)
1
Diamant Dore
-
J: Brian Hughes
T: Adrian Paul Keatley
5
11-7
118
127
Held every chance when falling late on in an Irish point for which he was odds-on; later recruited for £125,000; drew clear for a 17l success at Ayr (heavy), beating a previous winner; his RPR was encouraging enough to believe he might hold his own in this stronger company; raced freely at Ayr and wandered around when clear, so a hood is now fitted.
20(0)
1
Our Trigger
-
J: Danny Mullins
T: W P Mullins
4
10-11
119
136
Bred to be a Cheltenham horse as a brother to Arkle winner Gaelic Warrior; what he achieved in winning a four-runner bumper at Gowran (on heavy) is anyone's guess but he did go off odds-on and did it easily in the end having come under pressure turning for home; that performance didn't scream 'Champion Bumper winner' but he's clearly open to any amount of improvement; this can be a struggle for 4yos, however.
3(0)
11
Broadway Ted
-
J: Sean Bowen
T: Gordon Elliott
5
11-7
131
137
Both runs on heavy; debut win was at Ayr and he followed up in the Grade 2 at the Dublin Racing Festival that's often a good guide to this (three horses have achieved the double since 2019); only a short head in front of With Nolimit and a suspicion that Charismatic Kid (third) and It's Only A Game (fourth) were not seen to best effect in behind, but this is a nice prospect.
19(0)
211
Moonverrin
-
J: Mr Finian Maguire
T: Martin Hassett
5
11-0
121
132
The 20-1 winner of a Grade 2 for mares at Leopardstown's Dublin Racing Festival and would probably have been second had the runner-up's rider not eased down prematurely; Bambino Fever won the same race en route to taking this last year, but this mare's claims are nothing like so convincing.
NR(0)
13
Charismatic Kid
-
T: Gordon Elliott
5
11-7
127
134
Bought for £300,000 soon after winning a Navan bumper in early December; he took a tall reputation into the Grade 2 at Leopardstown in early February won by Broadway Ted and was backed accordingly, only for his effort to peter out after briefly threatening up the straight; could be capable of better on this surface (has raced on soft or heavy) but clearly needs to be.
17(0)
11
Wilde's Legacy
-
J: Gavin Sheehan
T: Jamie Snowden
5
11-7
120
128
AW winner on debut and, in the end, comfortably defied a penalty on soft ground at Huntingdon, though he appeared to hit a flat spot before staying on better than the rest; will need to be a whole lot sharper here.
RACING POST TIP
Bass Hunter
For all that it's a dangerous game taking on the Irish when they have won 26 of the 33 runnings, BASS HUNTER might be as special as his trainer Chris Gordon has been telling everyone. He was clinging on at Ascot last time but no wonder after he was so far clear for so long, and he must have some engine. In a race that can be steadily run, some controlled aggression at the head of affairs could be his trump card. Unlike some of those ahead of him in the betting, he is also a Listed winner, and eight of the last ten winners had those or Graded honours to their names. Willie Mullins is responsible for the lion's share of Ireland's victories and his typically stocked-up squad is seemingly spearheaded by Love Sign d'Aunou, who hinted at star potential in winning his only bumper in a breeze. Gordon Elliott has made no bones about it that Keep Him Company is his best chance, while The Mourne Rambler (second choice) has to be feared when he looked so good at Leopardstown and he is blessed with the assistance of stellar Flat jockey Colin Keane.
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CHAMPION BUMPER PREVIOUS WINNERS
| Year | Horse | Previous Form | Age | Price | Trainer | Jockey |
| 2025 | Bambino Fever | 11 | 5 | 4/1 | Willie Mullins | J. Townend |
| 2024 | Jasmin De Vaux | 1 | 5 | 9-2 | Willie Mullins | Patrick Mullins |
| 2023 | A Dream To Share | 111 | 5 | 7-2 | John E Kiely | Mr J L Gleeson |
| 2022 | Facile Vega | 11 | 5 | 15-8F | Willie Mullins | Patrick Mullins |
| 2021 | Sir Gerhard | 1-11 | 6 | 85-40 | Willie Mullins | Rachael Blackmore |
| 2020 | Ferny Hollow | 221 | 5 | 11-1 | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 2019 | Envoi Allen | 111 | 5 | 2-1F | Gordon Elliott | Jamie Codd |
| 2018 | Relegate | 11 | 5 | 25-1 | Willie Mullins | Katie Walsh |
| 2017 | Fayonagh | 811 | 6 | 7-1 | Gordon Elliott | Jamie Codd |
| 2016 | Ballyandy | 1121 | 5 | 5-1 | Nigel Twiston-Davies | Sam Twiston-Davies |
| 2015 | Moon Racer | 1-1 | 6 | 9-2F | David Pipe | Tom Scudamore |
CHAMPION BUMPER KEY TRENDS AND STATS
Key trends
- Won last time out, 10/10
- Aged five or six, 10/10
- Won a bumper worth at least £4,000 or €4,000 to the winner, 9/10
- Adjusted RPR of at least 138, 8/10
- Off the track for at least 32 days, 8/10 (four not seen since Christmas or earlier)
- Won a bumper with at least 12 runners, 9/10
Other factors
- Ireland has won nine of the last ten and 26 of the 33 runnings.
- Willie Mullins has had the most winners with 14 victories (six in the last ten years) but is often mob-handed. On four of the occasions he won, he saddled just one runner; on the other ten, the winner was not his most fancied in the market on all but three occasions (Facile Vega in 2022, Jasmin De Vaux in 2024 and Bambino Fever in 2025).
- Gordon Elliott has trained two of the last ten winners.
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WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR - CHAMPION BUMPER 2025
Bambino Fever became the ninth straight Irish-trained winner of the Champion Bumper at odds of 4-1 under Jody Townend. The mare, who went unbeaten in four bumpers last season, gained a record-extending 14th victory in the race for Willie Mullins. The second and third were also Irish-trained and filled the places at prices of 33-1 and 66-1.