There are few more tricky races to unravel during the Cheltenham festival than the Champion Bumper. Very few of the runners will have clashed and no fewer than 21 of the 51 original entries are unbeaten after just one or two starts. Very few lines of form exist and the betting market often proves as good a guide as any.
One thing we do know is that Trainer Willie Mullins has farmed this race, winning it seven times in the twenty years since it was introduced. Union Dues appears to be his leading hope this season having won impressively at Killarney and Navan. He may also saddle Moyle Park, a four-length winner at Leopardstown in December, and Sizing Tennessee who landed the odds at Punchestown and Gowran Park.
Liz Doyle’s Le Vent D’Antan has been the subject of significant market support in recent weeks and is now challenging for favouritism with Golantilla. The French-bred gelding cruised to a six-length win on his racecourse debut at Leopardstown and comes from a stable with plenty of experience in this type of event. Doyle trained both Al Ferof and Cheltenian who went on to finish second and first in this race for their new connections. She has made no secret of the fact that believes Le Vent D’Antan to be in the same class. Golantilla romped to a 13-length success in heavy ground at Cork in January and has been put away for this race ever since.
The home defence is led by Jeremy Scott’s Huntingdon winner Empiracle. The son of Kris Kin bolted up under Nick Scholfield and has been the subject of encouraging reports in the build up to this race. Harry Fry is enjoying his debut season as a trainer with notable successes for Rock On Ruby and Opening Batsman. He looks to have another potential star performer in Oscar Rock, winner of a hotly contested bumper race at Newbury. He galloped on strongly to beat the Paul Nicholls-trained Vago Collonges. Caledonia was an eye-catching third for Jim Goldie with the highly regarded Pure Science back in fourth.
Another horse that has been clipped in the betting market is Anthony Honeyball’s Regal Encore, unbeaten in two starts and owned by Irish multi-millionaire JP McManus. He was purchased for an undisclosed fee after cruising to victory at Southwell in February and followed up at Chepstow in October. Although he has not raced since, latest reports suggest that he is on course for the festival and carries plenty of stable confidence.
The race is given an extra dimension by the participation of the Aidan O’Brien-trained Shield. A winner on his second start, the trainer is hoping to get special permission granted for his son Joseph to ride in the festival bumper. If he does make the line up it will be O’Brien’s first festival runner since Istabraq was pulled up when seeking a fourth Champion Hurdle victory in 2002.
Summary
This looks an incredibly difficult puzzle to solve and it may pay to follow the market closely on race day. Confidence is certainly high behind Le Vent D’Antan and he could prove the best of the Irish. Oscar Rock boasts the best form of the home contingent but Empiracle and Regal Encore both arrive with big home reputations.
Betfair:
Bet on Henrik Stenson to become the BMW PGA Championship Winner.
Paddypower:
Back Australia to take the Ashes home with them.
Betway:
Back Rafael Nadal to become the Mens French Open Winner.
Coral:
Back One For Arthur to win the Grand National.
Bet365:
Back Mexico to win the Confederations Cup.
