Of those covered either in an earlier update, or were given a positive mention in the Bumper Division section of this year’s Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide (available here you haven’t already got your copy), Willie Mullins didn’t enter Bentragghill, who will reportedly be aimed at the Punchestown Festival.

Mullins, of course, stands out when it comes to the Champion Bumper, having won the race no fewer than 14 times, including five of the past six renewals. Often very well represented, he is responsible for seven of the 36 possible runners and digressing slightly, it is worth noting that the maximum field for the race has been reduced this year, from 24 to 22. Whilst this sounds a concern for certain horses getting into the contest, only once in the past seven renewals have we seen more than 21 runners face the starter.

Back to Mullins and the market would suggest that Love Sign d’Aunou and The Irish Avatar top his squad and listening to a recent interview with Patrick Mullins (available on the Paddy Power YouTube channel, for those interested), it would seem likely that he will partner either of the two. Both were covered in the second of this year’s updates, although since, the form of the latter has been boosted when Low Kick (beaten 9 lengths into second) won by 10 lengths at Naas recently. It is worth noting, however, that Patrick Mullins suggested (in said interview) that he might have found himself on a nicer strip of ground than many at Navan, whilst it has also since transpired that Low Kick struggled to cope with the prelims before that Rules debut. With that in mind, perhaps The Irish Avatar was slightly flattered by the result. Nevertheless, there was no denying the manner with which he moved through the race and he remains a nice prospect.

I suspect that the amateur rider and assistant trainer will opt to ride Love Sign d’Aunou, who won the same race as Jasmin de Vaux en route to Champion Bumper success a couple of years ago, so it could be that Paul Townend takes the ride aboard the exciting Gigginstown House Stud-owned son of Poet’s Word.

Of the other Closutton-trained quintet, Quiryn is arguably most interesting. As highlighted in the latest update, he is only four (negative, given the record of that age group) but is probably much more forward than a standard four-year-old, given that he was in training on the Flat in France before moving to Ireland. The seventh from his Naas race came out and beat the runner-up subsequently and given his Flat pedigree, he is definitely one to consider strongly. Given that age allowance, he is one Patrick Mullins won’t have the option of selecting.

Gordon Elliott won the race in both 2017 and 2019, and the County Meath handler has entered five horses for this year’s contest. They include Grade 2 winner Broadway Ted, who was successful on heavy ground at Ayr and then under similar conditions at the Dublin Racing Festival, in a race which has been the best pointer towards Champion Bumper success in recent years. A five-year-old by Getaway, he narrowly beat a couple of stable mates (both also entered here) at Leopardstown, although it did feel that it was possibly a below par renewal this year. He will need to show improved form and also (likely) prove his ability to handle a sounder surface.

It's Only A Game finished only fourth in the Grade 2, but sweated up beforehand and might have preferred slightly better ground. He had earlier beaten Boycetown (despite meeting trouble in running) on reappearance before that rival won by 18 lengths at Down Royal. He, too, holds an entry in this year’s race.

The unbeaten Keep Him Company could be the pick of the Elliott-trained quintet. The former Points winner was successful at Fairyhouse in late November and followed up on better ground at Leopardstown over Christmas, where he had Royal Hillsborough (narrowly beaten in the mares’ bumper at the DRF next time) back in third. The six-year-old looks a strong stayer and is another who could represent Gigginstown.

Another successful at Leopardstown’s Christmas fixture, The Mourne Rambler featured in the previous post and in even greater detail in the aforementioned Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide. From a family which his trainer, Noel Meade, knows particularly well, his form was given a boost when Outofafrika (finished 5^th and also entered here) won at Fairyhouse, whilst his Points form was also given a small boost when Rattlin Home ran well when runner-up at Kempton recently. The Mourne Rambler travelled well in that Portrush maiden and looked slightly unfortunate, whilst softer ground won’t be a concern (on breeding), so he is very much one to take seriously.

Now in the care of Tony Martin, Oh My Word is another leading contender from Ireland. Unbeaten in two starts for Thomas Cleary, he belied odds of 33-1 on debut before returning to Navan to run out a hugely impressive winner in Listed company. Passenger (beaten 15 lengths into 4^th) went on to finish much closer to Keep Him Company over Christmas and whilst the better ground probably helped in that regard, he does give the form a solid look. The five-year-old son of Poet’s Word has raced exclusively on testing ground, so drying conditions would be an unknown.

And, at huge odds, Moonverrin deserves a mention, having beaten Royal Hillsborough in said Grade 2 at Leopardstown. Again, that mares’ only event didn’t feel as strong as in previous years, but there was still plenty to like about how she moved to the lead. Cruising to the front, she idled badly and wandered around, before getting back up thanks to the jockey on the runner-up misjudging the winning post. Whilst many will point to the second being an ‘unlucky loser’ the daughter of Well Chosen would have run out a comfortable winner had she been kept to a straight line, so was the best mare in the race. Interestingly, Royal Hillsborough has been declared to run in a maiden hurdle at Navan on Saturday, so take note of her performance.

Domestically, Bass Hunter remains the shortest priced runner, despite the fact that we have yet to see Chris Gordon’s six-year-old since pre-Christmas. Having missed a possible engagement at Windsor, he bypassed Newbury’s Listed race (February) due to the testing ground and will arrive at the Festival fresher than most. The form of his Ascot success needs to be improved upon, although the second from his Newbury win has since won over hurdles (now rated 118), whilst the fourth-placed Lover Desbois ran out a taking winner at Kempton recently and could be one for the Grade 2 at Aintree (also sponsored by Weatherbys, of course).

The son of Authorized is clearly talented, but as I pointed out previously, he will need to channel his enthusiasm much more efficiently at Cheltenham, on a track which doesn’t necessarily always suit a keen-going, headstrong individual. The prelims could be quite telling.

Dan Skelton has entered four horses, three of which being previous winners in England, whilst the most fascinating looks to be French recruit Mets Ta Ceinture. Runner-up in a Grade 2 AQPS race at Saint-Cloud in October, she is a four-year-old filly by Hunter’s Light, a sire who has yet to make an impact in this sphere, and she went on to run out an impressive winner in Grade 3 company at Lyon Parilly. That form hasn’t really worked out, but she showed a good turn of foot and pulled nicely clear to record a taking success. Purchased for a whopping €710,000 as a result, she will carry only 10-4 (receives both age and sex allowances) and although four-year-olds tend to struggle, she is another who is likely to be more forward in her career than many who would have taken their chance. Not physically imposing, she looks to be an intriguing runner and with three runs under her belt from last autumn (despite many British form figures listing just one run), she could attract plenty of interest in the build up to the race.

Finally, another at big odds to note, would be Adrian Keatley’s wide-margin Ayr winner Diamant Dore, who scored by 17 lengths on heavy ground. Quite keen in the hands of Brian Hughes, the son of Martinborough – sire of Majborough – strode right away in the closing stages, beating a couple of horses who had finished first and second at the same track the time before. A faller when holding every chance in an Irish Point, it could be that he requires testing ground to be seen at his best, but there was plenty to like about his striking Rules debut and given his connections, is one who could be overlooked somewhat.

It will be interesting to see which horses remain in contention for the race at five-day stage next Thursday and even more so, who are declared the following Monday. Whilst only time will tell, it is hoped that we will see another strong renewal of this year’s Champion Bumper. Certainly last year’s race has worked out well, with the likes of Bambino Fever (favourite for the Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle), El Cairos & Idaho Sun (5^th & 6^th and on course to contest the Supreme), No Drama This End (leading contender for the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle) and I Started A Joke (prominent in the market for three handicaps) among those looking to win at this year’s Festival.

Enjoy Cheltenham,

Paul.

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