Cheltenham Champion Bumper

The Cheltenham Champion Bumper is the only Cheltenham Festival Race without hurdles. The Bumper is essentially a flat race run under National Hunt racing rules, over a distance just exceeding two miles.

Despite only having a brief history the Irish Trainer Willie Mullins already possesses a fine record in this race and his entrants could well be worth looking at this year. One statistic that is common in each running of this race is that all the past winners have been five years old.

Cheltenham Festival Odds - Day Two Wednesday
2.00pm	Ballymore Properties Novices Hurdle Odds	Free Bets
2.35pm	Royal Sun Alliance Chase Betting Odds	Free Bets
3.15pm	Queen Mother Chase Betting Odds	Free Bets
4.00pm	Coral Cup Betting Odds	Free Bets
4.40pm	National Hunt Novice Chase	Free Bets
5.20pm	Champion Bumper Betting Odds	Free Bets

The first race on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival is the Jewson Novices Handicap Chase.

Champion Bumper 2008 Results

Zaarito and Apt Approach were the two for money before the race. The early pace was from Youngstown at a good pace with Apt Approach right there on the rail. The field were bunched up as they went to the top of the hill with Apt Approach taking it up but Cousin Vinny took it up coming into the straight and was quicky chased by Zaarito and Corskeagh Royal, Cousin Vinny held on well despite greeness to win for Willie Mullins.

Champion Bumper Result 2008
1. Cousin Vinny (Mr P Mullins) 12/1
2. Corskeagh Royal (Miss N Carberry) 7/1
3. Zaarito (D Russell) 3/1 Fav
23 ran

Champion Bumper 2006 Results

As usual this is a very competitive race and with the Irish mob handed for the bumper and Willie Mullins again had a number of leading fancies but the winner came from a different Irish trainer and all three home will be horses to follow for the future. Hairy Molly was up with the pace all the way and just held off Pressgang who was finishing best of all.

1. Hairy Molly (P Carberry) 33-1
2. Pressgang (T Doyle) 20-1
3. Kicks For Free (MA Fitzgerald) 5-1
23 ran

Champion Bumper 2005 Results

Missed that was all the rage in the week leading up the race as his race course gallop at Leopardstown was exceptional and justified the odds by hanging on gamely to win narrowly by the persistent De Soto. Ruby Walsh had his arms pulled out by Missed That for most of the race but still had the energy to last home, he looks a chaser for the future.

1. Missed That (R Walsh) 7-2 F
2. De Soto (T Doyle) 20/1
3. 14 Rasharrow (A Dobbin)) 9/1

Champion Bumper 2004 Results

The Irish once again showed there dominance in this event Total Enjoyment had shown useful form in winning her last two starts and was impressive here, looking to be travelling well when chasing the leaders before going clear about four furlongs out and showing a good turn of speed to bound away. Refinement, who also went notably well through the race, lived up to her reputation as Britain's leading hope. She was the only danger in the latter stages and pulled nicely clear of the rest. Master Albert stayed on much the best of the rest, responding well to his rider's urgings in the last two furlongs of the Cheltenham Racecourse, having been ridden some way out, and shaping like a stayer on ground quicker than he had encountered.

Champion Bumper 2003 Results

The Martin Pipe trained favourite Liberman took the 2003 Champion Bumper and in the process gave the Champion jockey, Tony McCoy his first Festival winner of the year. After being moved to head the field three fences from the finish, Liberman displayed a great deal of resilience in holding off all challenges and was well worthy of a narrow victory. Trabolgan was the nearest challenger but was unable to overtake Liberman in the final few yards. One of the best finishing displays was by Widemouth Bay who was surprisingly switched left on the run in and could well be one to watch in the 2004 Cheltenham Festival.