Champion Bumper Guide 2023

Another runner for the Willie Mullins team who has major potential to improve on his first run at Naas in late January, winning the Nursery Of Champions Flat Race over 2m 3f, beating Suttons Hill by six and a half lengths.

He stayed on very easily that day and looks another top prospect for the Mullins yard ahead of his graded debut here in the Champion Bumper.

Mullins has several runners in the mix for victory in what looks like a fairly open race with many chances.

Won easily on bumper debut at Limerick in December with Josephine Townend riding him to a ten length success over Talk In The Park.

Went off at 9/2 for his next outing at Leopardstown last month, where A Dream To Share triumphed by just under three lengths to Fact To File, with Chosen Witness finishing fifth.

Goes off as a 33/1 outsider here for Willie Mullins and it would be hard to see him beating some leading contenders in this one.

Five-year-old for Paul Nicholls who is one from one in the NHFlat races, winning at Plumpton in December last year. He beat the likes of King William Rufus and Duhallow Tommy on the way to that class five success.

The gelding goes off 116 for this bumper on his graded debut for Nicholls and the usual one-two of the trainer and Harry Cobden will be hoping for more progression here.

Another one of the strong Willie Mullins runners who won on bumper debut at Leopardstown in December, beating Irish Panther by two lengths over 2m 4f.

Followed that with a fairly narrow defeat to A Dream To Share by just under three lengths in 2m grade two at the same course last month.

Should be in the mix for victory and he’s another top prospect for the top Mullins yard who have several potential winners in this contest.

This five-year-old looks the pick of Gordon Elliott’s runners in this contest, after finishing second of three on debut at Down Royal in November last year before beating fellow runner Chapeau De Soleil by three lengths last time out at Fairyhouse in December.

Off 101 days but can improve further after that maiden victory and Elliott certainly thinks so, stepping him up to grade one company for his first run at the festival.

Returns after 76 days off for Gordon Elliott who won a bumper at Down Royal in November which is a contest that Sir Gerhard and American Mike have won in previous years before disappointing fifth of nine in 2m flat race at Leopardstown in December behind a few here when priced at 2/1.

Must bounce back with a much improved run to have any chance here and I’d be siding with the market leaders here.

Returns after 101 days off following a second-place finish on debut in a Fairyhouse bumper in December over 2m, losing out to Better Days Ahead by three lengths in the hands of Patrick Mullins. He went into that contest as favourite but ran greenly and will only improve from that experience.

This looks like a tough ask after 101 days off but can certainly improve more, maybe not enough to win this contest just yet.

Was a faller on two points runs before finishing third on bumper debut at Leopardstown in December last year, coming behind Feronily and Ile Atlantique over 2m. Backed that up with an even better effort at Down Royal in January, winning a 2m 1f bumper by 15 lengths at 6/4.

This is a much tougher contest, at a festival in graded company and needs to find way more to be involved in the talk for victory here.

Off 144 days before making a return in this year’s Champion Bumper and comes into it unbeaten, having won on debut at Cork in July last year.

That win came when priced at 4/1, beating Cash The Cheque by a length. He followed that with a class two victory at this course in October, impressively beating Strong Leader by four lengths over 2m.

Comes here in strong form despite the lay-off and shouldn’t be dismissed.

Gelding for Willie Mullins who began his career in a bumper at Fairyhouse last April with a second-place finish over 2m, finishing two lengths behind winner Icare Desbois.

Followed that with what seemed like a victory at Punchestown before stewards demoted him to second and recorded another good effort behind Fascile Mode at Leopardstown in December to finish second again.

Comes here on the back of a 76-day break and would be an unlikely winner having not officially won yet and stepping into graded company here.

Loughglynn returns after a while since he ran out winner in 1m 7f flat race at Naas in December last year, beating Firefox by three quarters of a length at 13/8 in the hands of Patrick Mullins. That followed a sixth-place finish on bumper debut at Fairyhouse last April, won by Icare Desbois.

Plenty more to find here for the five-year-old but respected for a top yard.

The last of Willie Mullins’ squad for this year’s Champion Bumper and is the least backed in the market at around 66/1. Finished second on debut in December at Punchestown before winning next time out at Limerick with Josephine Townend on board at the end of January.

That win came by a relatively comfortable six lengths but this is a lot tougher and it will be hard for him to make his presence felt.

Willie Mullins sends ten of his horses to this contest and It’s For Me is his leading runner in the market. Won on his debut outing at Navan in January, beating Suttons Hill by ten lengths at 4/9 favourite.

He won very easily that day and comes straight into graded company for this one, which clearly suggests Mullins thinks he’s good enough to step up and challenge for victory and he has every chance.

Five-year-old mare for Oliver Sherwood who has shown early promise in her career, winning on debut at this course in April over 2m before scoring again here over the same distance in November, beating Bonttay by eight lengths.

She followed that with a second-place finish at Market Rasen, a length behind Dysart Enos. The five-year-old can improve more but might find a few too good in this contest.

Unbeaten five-year-old who has won all three of his bumper outings at Tipperary, Roscommon and Leopardstown. Most recently beat the Willie Mullins trained Fact To File by just under three lengths in a grade two bumper at Leopardstown when priced at 12/1, staying on strongly.

Has relished being an outsider so far with wins coming at 12/1 and 8/1 as well as a 2/9fav win at Roscommon and that graded Leopardstown victory has him as the market favourite for this contest.

A real possibility of keeping hold of his unbeaten status but there are some top runners in this year’s Champion Bumper.

Five-year-old promising mare who won on debut at Sligo in October last year, beating Tomas O Maille by ten lengths over 2m 2f.

Followed that with another really impressive showing at the Dublin Racing Festival, winning a grade two mares event over 2m, beating Lily Du Berlais by nine and a half lengths to retain unbeaten start.

Yard has won this in previous years and she goes off at around 7/1 with huge chances of retaining her unbeaten start to life under Willie Mullins and Daryl Jacob is booked to ride here.

Arrives here unbeaten as a four-year-old following victories at Market Rasen at class five level in October last year before winning a listed contest over this course on New Year’s Day at 17/2, beating Meatloaf, trained by Paul Nicholls, by half a length.

Inexperience maybe showed a bit in that last success and may still be a bit green to win here but Ben Pauling will be hoping for more improvement given this is the only one he sends to this race.

Winner of two bumpers in his career so far for Alan King, at Southwell in November and Warwick last month.

Both of those runs have been at class five level and although winning those easily, by five lengths and seven lengths respectively, this is a big step for the five-year-old.

May struggle to keep up with some of the Irish horses in this one and also the market leaders.

100/1 outsider Shinji comes here a debut class five win at Fakenham on debut in November last year, scoring by nine lengths ahead of Gaye Legacy.

Then stepped up to class one level, finishing third at 20/1 over 2m at Newbury last month.
Needs to find much more if challenging here and the four-year-old’s chances might be reflected by his price in the market.

Easy winner of a bumper at Chepstow last month in a class five contest, beating Harry Skelton on Delgany Bobby Blue by 16 lengths.

That followed a fourth-place finish on debut in another class five at Carlisle in November last year, when he was backed into 5/2 which was a disappointing run but made amends with that victory last time out.

Comes here off the back of one career run to date, winning at Fairyhouse on debut in January. That victory came over 2m, beating Faulty by three lengths at 4/5 favourite.

Patrick Mullins was on board there but Danny Mullins takes over the reins for this contest on yet another top prospect for trainer Willie Mullins.

Slightly more inexperienced than some here and may finish behind a few of the Mullins runners on graded and Cheltenham debut but he looks another good horse for the future.

Won well on debut at Leopardstown over Christmas last year, beating two Willie Mullins horses in Lecky Watson and Special Cadeau in the process.

Followed that with a decent fourth in a grade two last month at the same course behind Feronily and fellow runners here Fact To File and A Dream To Share.

This is a lot tougher for the five-year-old alongside a big field and with many boasting graded successes.

Inexperienced four-year-old with just the one win so far in his short career, overcoming that inexperience to win at Gowran Park on debut in January, beating Jerisk Star by a length with Patrick Mullins on board.

Bryan Cooper does the steering here for a stiff test for the gelding and it would be a surprise to see him winning a graded race so soon.

Impressed on bumper debut, scoring at Naas last month in the hands of Jamie Codd at 3/1 favourite, beating Cappuccino by five and a half lengths over a trip of 1m 7f.

Stayed on well to draw clear there and trainer Gordon Elliott sends the four-year-old to the Champion Bumper for his second run.
He can improve further from that run off a mark of 115 but this is a massive step up from that debut success.