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| Weatherbys Champion Bumper - Wed Mar 14th 2012 |
Champagne Fever Heads Champion Bumper Betting After Fairyhouse Success 23/01/12
The Willie Mullins trained Champagne Fever has been made favourite for the Champion Bumper following his impressive 13 length victory at Fairyhouse on Sunday and looks like his trainer's main hope of landing this race for a seventh time in the 20 years it has been run.
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The Champion Bumper however is one of the most difficult antepost races to untangle at the Cheltenham Festival and is a race with little form to go off and a lot of dependency on the word of "good things" and a strong trends.
The race is run over a slightly extended two mile flat course and is open only to horses aged between 4 and 6 years old. It always attracts exciting field and provides the racing fans with a valuable insight in to potential future stars of the National Hunt. Due to the nature of the race, it often provides an opportunity for the flat jockeys to get involved in what is widely acknowledged as the greatest meeting in the sport and there are many who have been successful in the race down the years, the last being Jamie Spencer who rode Pizarro to victory in 2002.
However, it is usually the Jumps jockeys that prevail although no individual jockey can be said to have ever been a dominant factor in the race with only three jockeys ever riding the two winners. Only one of those, Paul Carberry is still riding today.
Since its inaugural running in 1992, eleven Bumper champions have returned to the Festival the following season and three of them have won. The 1992 winner, Montelado won the Supreme Novices Hurdle, Florida Pearly, who won the Bumper in 1997 went on to win the RSA Chase while Monsignor won the race in 1999 before going on to land the race that is now known as the Neptunes Investment Novices Hurdle, breaking the course record by four seconds in the process. Sadly, that was to be his last ever race after an injury at home put an end to his career.
The race has also produced many big names from those who ran in the Bumper without actually winning it, the most recent example of this is the Jonjo O’Neill trained Albertas Run who has won the Ryanair Chase two years running and will be potentially lining up a hat trick in the race this season.
Other recent runners who will be at the Festival this season include the Colin Tizzard trained Cue Card, winner in 2010 and who was fourth in the Supreme Novices last season. This season is his first as a novice chaser and will see him run in the Arkle Challenge Trophy. There is also Dunguib, who won the Bumper in 2009 who is a likely to be a Champion Hurdle contender this term.
It is worth noting that Irish trained runner shave won 14 of the 18 renewals and Irish champion Trainer, Willie Mullins has saddled six of them.
Little wonder therefore that it is Champagne Fever who is the current 12/1 antepost favourite for this year’s renewal. The five year old made his racecourse debut on Boxing Day at Leopardstown over two miles, where he finished second 4½ lengths behind the winner Thomas Edison despite being 4/5 favourite. However, his easy win at Fairyhouse on Sunday by 13 lengths was enough to illustrate why Champayne Fever is highly rated and was enough to see his odds for the Bumper halved with most firms and is as short as 8/1.
Others who have made good impressions early on in their careers include Population, trained by John Ferguson who is two from two in Bumpers but has not run since November and this 16/1 shot would probably require a run again before March. Shutthefrontdoor, from the Jonjo O’Neill yard who is also two from two as is the The New One from the Nigel Twiston-Davies stable. Un Atout, also trained by Mullins was a very impressive 24 length winner of his debut Bumper at Naas earlier this month, while Venture Capital from the Phillip Fenton stable was won on his debut at Fairyhouse last month and is said to be as good as Dunguib who won for Fenton in 2009. All four of these are also currently 16/1 and have to rate as serious contenders but with seven weeks until the Festival, there is still time for more contenders to emerge and this year's Bumper looks set to be as competitive as previous years.
WEATHERBYS CHAMPION BUMPER PAST RESULTS
2010-WINNER-CUE CARD 4-10-12 Owner-Jean Bishop; Trainer-Colin Tizzard; Jockey-Joe Tizzard; SP-40/1
2ND Al Ferof 5-11-05 Owner-John Hales; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-8/1
3RD Frawley 5-11-05 Owner-Dr K A Roche-Nagle; Trainer-John Kiely IRE; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-14/1 24 ran, Time-3m 48.70s Dist-8, 8 3/1 Fav Shot From The Hip (20th)
2009-WINNER-DUNGUIB 6-11-05 Owner-Daniel Harnett; Trainer-Philip Fenton IRE; Jockey-Mr Brian O’Connell; SP-9/2
2ND Some Present 6-11-05 Owner-Frances Duffin; Trainer-Tom Mullins IRE; Jockey-Davy Russell; SP-25/1
3RD Rite Of Passage 5-11-05 Owner-Dr Ronan Lambe; Trainer-Dermot Weld IRE; Jockey-Pat Smullen; SP-5/2 Fav 24 ran, Time-3m 56.90s Dist-10, ¾
2008-WINNER-COUSIN VINNY 5-11-05 Owner-Festival Syndicate; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Mr Patrick Mullins; SP-12/1
2ND Corskeagh Royale 5-11-05 Owner-Queen Maeve Racing Club; Trainer-Noel Meade IRE; Jockey-Miss Nina Carberry; SP-7/1
3RD Zaarito 6-11-05 Owner-Victoria Syndicate; Trainer-Colm Murphy IRE; Jockey-Davy Russell; SP-3/1 Fav
23 ran, Time-4m 1.30s Dist-3¼, ¾
2007-WINNER-CORK
ALL STAR 5-11-05 Owner-Cathal Ryan; Trainer-Jessica Harrington IRE; Jockey-Barry
Geraghty; SP-11/2
2ND Sophocles 4-10-11 Owner-Mrs A Donnelly; Trainer-James Leavy IRE;
Jockey-Miss Pauline Ryan; SP-40/1
3RD Aranleigh 5-11-05 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Tony Mullins IRE; Jockey-Tony
McCoy; SP-8/1
24 ran, Time-3m 47.90s Dist-1¼, 1½ 4/1 Fav Mad Fish
(8th)
2006-WINNER-HAIRY
MOLLY 6-11-05 Owner-F T B Syndicate; Trainer-Joe Crowley
IRE; Jockey-Paul Carberry; SP-33/1
2ND Pressgang 4-10-11 Owner-Mrs Anthony West; Trainer-Paul Webber; Jockey-Tom
Doyle; 20/1
3RD Kicks For Free 5-11-05 Owner-Mark Tincknell; Trainer-Paul Nicholls;
Jockey-Mick Fitzgerald; SP-5/1
23 ran, Time-3m 46.70s Dist-hd, 1.75 5/2 Fav Equus Maximus (12th)
2005-WINNER-MISSED
THAT 6-11-05 Owner-Violet O’Leary;
Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-7/2 Fav
2ND De Soto 4-10-12 Owner-Peter Deal; Trainer-Paul Webber; Jockey-Tom
Doyle; SP-20/1
3RD Rasharrow 6-11-05 Owner-Ashleybank Investments Limited; Trainer-Len
Lungo; Jockey-Tony Dobbin; SP-9/1
24 ran, Time-3m 52.70s Dist-nk, .5
2004-WINNER-TOTAL ENJOYMENT 5-10-12 Owner-It Will Never Last Syndicate;
Trainer-Tommy Cooper IRE; Jockey-Jim Culloty; SP-7/1
2ND Refinement 5-10-12 Owner-Michael Tabor; Trainer-Jonjo O’Neill;
Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-7/1
3RD Master Albert 6-10-12 Owner-Sue Magnier; Trainer-David Wachman IRE;
Jockey-Mr J P Magnier; SP-50/1
24 ran, Time-3m 48.30s Dist-2.5, 5 7/2 Fav Martinstown (14th)
2003-WINNER-LIBERMAN 5-11-06 Owner-David Johnson; Trainer-Martin Pipe;
Jockey-Tony McCoy; SP-2/1 Fav
2ND Trabolgan 5-11-06 Owner-Trevor Hemmings; Trainer-Nicky Henderson;
Jockey-Seamus Durack; SP-50/1
3RD Widemouth Bay 5-11-06 Owner-Jackie Deithrick; Trainer-Philip Hobbs;
Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-33/1
25 ran, Time-3m 52.30s Dist-.5, 1
2002-WINNER-PIZARRO 5-11-06 Owner-Edward Wallace;
Trainer-Edward O’Grady
IRE; Jockey-Jamie Spencer; SP-14/1
2ND-Rhinestone Cowboy 6-11-06 Owner-Sue Magnier; Trainer-Jonjo O’Neill;
Jockey-Norman Williamson; SP-5/2 Fav
3RD-Back In Front 5-11-06 Owner-Nelius Hayes; Trainer-Edward O’Grady
IRE; Jockey-Charlie Swan; SP-12/1
23 ran, Time-4m 0.70s; Dist-nk, 3.5
2001-Race Cancelled
2000-WINNER-JOE CULLEN 5-11-06 Owner-Jackie Mullins; Trainer-Willie
Mullins IRE; Jockey-Charlie Swan; SP-14/1
2ND-Inca 5-11-06 Owner-Trevor Hemmings; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Mick
Fitzgerald; SP-2/1 Fav
3RD-Be My Royal 5-11-06 Owner-Mrs Violet O’Leary; Trainer-Willie
Mullins IRE; Jockey-Mr James Nash; SP-16/1
17 ran, Time-3m 41.20s, Dist-3.5, 2
1999-MONSIGNOR 5-11-06 Owner-Malcolm Denmark; Trainer-Mark Pitman; Jockey-Brendan
Powell; SP-50/1
2ND-Golden Alpha 5-11-06 Owner-David Johnson; Trainer-Martin Pipe; Jockey-Tony
McCoy; SP-7/2
3RD-Canasta 5-10-13 Owner-Southern Brick & Tile Co./D S Arnold; Trainer-Mark
Pitman; Jockey-Liam Corcoran; SP-25/1
25 ran, Time-3m 54.8s, Dist-1.5, .75 11/4 Fav Biliverdin (15th)
1998-WINNER-ALEXANDER BANQUET 5-11-06 Owner-M Swarbrick; Trainer-Willie
Mullins IRE; Jockey-Mr Ruby Walsh; SP-9/1
2ND-Joe Mac 4-10-12; Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Christy Roche IRE; Jockey-Conor
O’Dwyer; SP-6/4 Fav
3RD-Frantic Tan 6-11-06; Owner-The Bunkers Hill Mob; Trainer-Nigel Twiston-Davies;
Jockey-Carl Llewellyn; SP-8/1
25 ran, Time-3m 45.7s, Dist-2.5, 7
1997-WINNER-FLORIDA PEARL 5-11-06 Owner-Violet
O’Leary; Trainer-Willie
Mullins IRE; Jockey-Richard Dunwoody; SP-6/1
2ND-Arctic Camper 5-11-06 Owner-Lady Harris; Trainer-David Nicholson;
Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-16/1
3RD-All The Colours 4-10-12 Owner-Pat Byrnes; Trainer-John Mulhern IRE;
Jockey-Jamie Osborne; SP-8/1
25 ran, Time-3m 45.1s, Dist-5, 2 4/1 Fav Dawn Leader (13th)
1996-WINNER-WITHER OR WHICH 5-11-06 Owner-Robert Sinclair; Trainer-Willie
Mullins IRE; Jockey-Mr Willie Mullins; SP-11/4
2ND-Alzulu 5-11-06 Owner-D Buckle; Trainer-Jimmy FitzGerald; Jockey-Peter
Niven; SP-25/1
3RD-Mighty Moss 5-10-13 Owner-Ken Hutsby; Trainer-David Nicholson; Jockey-Mr
Fred Hutsby; SP-33/1
24 ran, Time-3m 53.7s, Dist-2, 3 9/4 Fav Andanito (4th)
1995-WINNER-DATO STAR 4-10-12 Owner-Kath Riley & Joe
Donald; Trainer-Malcolm Jefferson; Jockey-Mark Dwyer; SP-7/2
2ND-Red Blazer 4-10-12 Owner-Tom Shrimpton; Trainer-Henrietta Knight;
Jockey-Jamie Osborne SP-2/1 Fav
3RD-Skehanagh Bridge 6-11-06 Owner-David Pim; Trainer-Willie Mullins
IRE; Jockey-Mr Willie Mullins; SP-12/1
21 Ran, Time-4m 02.2s. Dist-1.25, 3.5
1994-WINNER-MUCKLEMEG 6-11-05 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Edward O'Grady
IRE; Jockey-Charlie Swan; SP-7/2 Fav
2ND-Aries Girl 5-11-03 Owner-Wally Sturt; Trainer-Pat Flynn IRE; Jockey-Shay
Barry; SP-5/1
3RD-Go Ballistic 5-11-03 Owner-Sheila Lockhart; Trainer-David Nicholson;
Jockey-Robert Massey; SP-16/1
25 Ran, Time-3m 53.7s, Dist-3, 15
1993-WINNER-RHYTHM SECTION 4-10-11 Owner-Robert Sinclair; Trainer-Homer
Scott IRE; Jockey-Paul Carberry; SP-16/1
2ND-Heist 4-11-02 Owner-Mrs G Matthews; Trainer-Noel Meade IRE; Jockey-Charlie
Swan; SP-9/4 Fav
3RD-Winter Belle 5-11-13 Owner-John Muldoon; Trainer-Paddy Prendergast
IRE; Jockey-John Shortt; SP-7/1
24 Ran, Time-3m 45.2s, Dist-.5, 1
1992-WINNER-MONTELADO 5-11-13 Owner-Ollie Hannon; Trainer-Pat Flynn
IRE; Jockey-Richard Dunwoody; SP-8/1
2ND-Tiananmen Square 4-10-12 Owner-Sue Magnier; Trainer-Noel Meade IRE;
Jockey-Mr Tim Hyde; SP-6/4 Fav
3RD-Maneree 5-11-08 Owner-Michael Tabor; Trainer-Neville Callaghan; Jockey-Declan
Murphy; SP-7/1
23 Ran, Time-3m 58.2s, Dist-12, 10
WEATHERBYS CHAMPION BUMPER FACTS & FIGURES
The first winner of the Weatherbys Champion Bumper was Montelado, who achieved what is thought to be the unique feat of winning two consecutive Festival races. The Bumper, now run on Wednesday, was originally the last race of The Festival. Montelado went on to win the opening race of the The Festival in 1993, the Stan James Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
Irish-trained runners have a great record in the race, accounting for 14 of the 18 winners. Willie Mullins has incredibly saddled six winners -he also rode his first winner of the race, the 1996 scorer Wither Or Which, while his son Patrick was in the saddle when Cousin Vinny won for the stable in 2008.
The four horses to have kept the trophy at home were Dato Star in 1995, Monsignor, who sprang a 50/1 surprise in 1999, Liberman, who gave Martin Pipe his first and only win in the race in 2003, and last year’s 40/1 winner Cue Card.
