The fact that Romeo Coolio – an impressive Point-to-Point winner who has yet to race under Rules – heads the ante-post market for the 2024 Weatherbys Champion Bumper suggests that we have yet to see a real star in the division, during the first half of the season. Gordon Elliott looks to have a strong team of bumper horses, but this son of Kayf Tara looked a high-class prospect when scoring for Donnchadh Doyle and his debut on the track is something to look forward to in the New Year.
Of Elliott’s bumper winners so far this term, Jalon d’Oudairies arguably created the best impression, when successful at Punchestown in early-December. That form has worked out well in recent days, with Binge Worthy (5th) and The Other Mozzie (6th) both successful over hurdles. A four-year-old by No Risk At All, he carries the colours of Gigginstown House Stud – who don’t usually like to target the Champion Bumper – and he actually runs again this afternoon at Leopardstown. If he is able to beat Redemption Day (sent off at just 7-1 for the 2022 Champion Bumper), he might well enter the picture, although the Grade 2 at the Dublin Racing Festival is likely to be his main target, should today go to plan.
In the same colours, The Enabler made all and stayed-on really well to win the Listed Future Champions Bumper at Navan recently. He poured it on from two out, but was all but ruled out of a trip to Cheltenham, with Gordon Elliott pinpointing a race at Naas in February as his likely next target.
Of those mentioned in the first update, Brechin Castle didn’t do too much wrong at Ascot recently, when attempting to concede 9lbs to a promising winner. Burdened with a penalty for his Listed success at Cheltenham in November, Ben Brookhouse’s son of Shantou pulled readily clear of the remainder and could still be on course to contest some of the better races come the spring.
The race was won by Dan Skelton’s mare Let It Rain, who had earlier been ridden with confidence when scoring at Warwick. She handled soft ground when justifying favouritism on that occasion and wasn’t inconvenienced by a sounder surface, when again moving stylishly at Ascot. Another by the late Kayf Tara, she could head to Newbury in February for another Listed contest (Betfair Hurdle day) after which she will be considered for the Champion Bumper, provided that the ground is soft (according to her trainer). A 20-1 shot for Cheltenham glory, it is worth remembering that Fayonagh and Relegate were back-to-back winning mares in 2017 and 2018, although it could be that the Grade 2 Nickel Coin at Aintree becomes her intended spring target.
Another who featured last month and could be aimed at the same Newbury race is Jonjo O’Neill’s Wellington Arch, who finished third under a penalty at Ascot in late-November. He allowed the front pair first run and did well to close the gap, having been held up in a relatively slowly-run race. I would imagine that he will be ridden a shade more positively next time and he remains a nice prospect.
That Ascot race was won by Paul Nicholls’ Regent’s Stroll, who is actually a full-brother to another Jonjo O’Neill-trained horse, the progressive novice chaser Are U Wise To That, a winner at Cheltenham recently. From the family of Denman, he is an imposing four-year-old by Walk In the Park who cost £175,000 as a store. However, he holds an entry in the valuable sales bumper at Newbury in March (23rd) and given the prize money on offer there, I suspect that is where he will be aimed.
On Boxing Day, or St Stephen’s Day, there were a couple of nice winners in Ireland. Firstly, Mongibello easily justified favouritism at Down Royal, paying a compliment to Only By Night (since won over hurdles) and Qualimita (third on debut) and the grey will now be aimed at the Grade 2 mares’ bumper at the Dublin Racing Festival, whilst the same race could be considered for Limerick winner Barnahash Primrose, who relished the testing conditions. Reportedly for sale, the five-year-old daughter of Malinas travelled well and scored with plenty in hand.
The following day, Joystick travelled well en route to winning over 2m4f at Leopardstown and coming back in trip looks sure to suit Willie Mullins’ grey. He had caught the eye when third in a Point-to-Point and doesn’t look short of pace, whilst the same stable landed the bumper at Limerick on the same day, with the five-year-old Hens Tooth. A horse with plenty of stamina in his pedigree, he breezed through the deep ground and might just need conditions to be similar, if stepped up in grade.
I suspect that Willie Mullins and many other leading trainers, still have plenty of ammunition to fire in the bumper division and expect that some Champion Bumper contenders have yet to see the track.
There is a Listed race for four-year-olds at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, but arguably of more interest is the bumper from Exeter, where Joyau Allen could make his debut under Rules. A full-brother to 2019 Champion Bumper winner Envoi Allen, he caught the eye when coming from off the pace to finish second to Tellherthename in a maiden Point, after which he was purchased privately by Paul Nicholls and Mrs Johnny de la Hey. The same connections won this Exeter bumper in 2023 with Wrappedupinmay and although they are not always renowned for targeting the Cheltenham race, Captain Teague finished third for them in the latest renewal. Although he disappointed at Aintree on Boxing Day, Tellherthename had earlier advertised that Borris House form in novice hurdle company and Joyau Allen could well enter the picture for Cheltenham, if he puts up an impressive display on Rules debut. He certainly didn’t look short of pace when making up plenty of ground under Barry O’Neill and is one to monitor closely on Monday.