Champion Bumper 2023 Racecard

The Champion Bumper is a Grade 1 National Hunt Flat race which takes place at the Cheltenham Festival each year, and is run over a distance of about two miles and half a furlong (2 miles and 87 yards). Open to horses aged between four and six years old, the Champion Bumper was established in 1992 and is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham. It was initially called the Festival Bumper, and had various sponsors in the early years, including Tote and Guinness. However, Weatherbys have been sponsoring the race since 1997 and it is now widely known as the Weatherbys Champion Bumper.

5:30 Wed 15 Mar CHAMPION BUMPER Distance: 16f 87y Age: 4yo 6 Prize: £80,000 Going: Soft Analyst's Verdict Willie Mullins fields 10 as he bids for a remarkable thirteenth win and the mare FUN FUN FUN could be the way to go. She was a sensational winner of a Grade 2 mares' event at Leopardstown last month and can follow in the footsteps of Relegate who did the same double for the yard in 2018. A Dream To Share has passed every test so far for John Kiely and sets a very good standard. Encanto Bruno and Better Days Ahead are other interesting runners away from the Mullins' battalion.

ENTRY FORM	SILKS	HORSE JOCKEY & TRAINER	AGE WGT		ODDS
1		1. A DREAM TO SHARE (IRE) J: Mr J. L. Gleeson T: John E. Kiely, Ireland	5 11-7		BET
Has looked a top prospect in winning all 3 of his starts in bumpers, including what is usually an informative Leopardstown Grade 2 last month, quickening clear from Fact To File. Bought by J P. McManus in the meantime and sets a very good standard.
2		2. BEACHCOMBER (FR) J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr. T: Jonjo O'Neill	5 11-7		BET
Better for debut (when well backed) and ran out an easy winner of Chepstow bumper 6 weeks ago, drawing clear final furlong. Plenty more needed to get competitive in this.
3		3. BETTER DAYS AHEAD (IRE) J: Mr J. J. Codd T: Gordon Elliott, Ireland	5 11-7		BET
Point winner who cost a tidy £350,000 at these sales last year and all the better for debut in messy race at Down Royal as he saw off the well-touted Chapeau de Soleil at Fairyhouse in December, eased late on under this rider. Will go on improving and looks the pick of the Elliott runners.
4		4. CAPTAIN CODY (IRE) J: Miss Josephine Townend T: W. P. Mullins, Ireland	5 11-7		BET
Showed plenty on completed start in point and Punchestown bumper prior to easy success in Limerick contest 6 weeks ago. 1 of 10 runners for Willie Mullins and down the pecking order.
5		5. CAPTAIN TEAGUE (IRE) J: Harry Cobden T: Paul Nicholls	5 11-7		BET
€70,000 point winner from good family and looked a good prospect when landing the odds in Plumpton bumper in December, having enough left to resist the runner-up having already taken care of the front runner in a well-run affair. Well worth a crack at this on that showing and wouldn't dismiss.
6		6. CHAPEAU DE SOLEIL (IRE) J: B. Hayes T: W. P. Mullins, Ireland	5 11-7		BET
Won a point in May and went into his Fairyhouse bumper debut in December as ante-post favourite for this race, unable to land the odds on that day as he looked green, no match for the eased-down Better Days Ahead. More to come but some effort if he were to win this.
7		7. CHOSEN WITNESS (IRE) J: S. F. O'Keeffe T: W. P. Mullins, Ireland	6 11-7		BET
Dead-heated in point and landed the odds easily on bumper debut at Limerick over Christmas, making all. Behind a few of these in the Leopardstown bumper won by A Dream To Share since though and one of the Mullins' outsiders after that.
8		8. ENCANTO BRUNO (IRE) J: Sean Bowen T: John McConnell, Ireland	5 11-7		BET
£210,000 buy after point debut success a year ago and it's looking money well spent after he followed up last summer's Cork victory with an impressive win in C&D bumper in October, showing a good turn of foot. That form is strong and he shouldn't be underestimated.
9		9. FACT TO FILE (FR) J: Mr P. W. Mullins T: W. P. Mullins, Ireland	6 11-7		BET
Easy winner in a point and successful start under Rules in a 20f Leopardstown bumper over Christmas. Found only A Dream To Share too good in Grade 2 back there last month, lacking his pace late on. This stiffer finish will suit him better and he's another solid contender for Willie Mullins.
10		10. FASCILE MODE (IRE) J: Mr Charlie Mullins T: Thomas Mullins, Ireland	5 11-7		BET
Overcame greenness as he saw off the Willie Mullins-trained pair Lecky Weston and Special Cadeau on debut at Leopardstown in December and not disgraced upped in grade behind A Dream To Share and Fact To File in last month's Grade 2 back there. Looking vulnerable here, though.
11		11. FAVOUR AND FORTUNE (IRE) J: Tom Cannon T: Alan King	5 11-7		BET
Lots to like with how he's easily won Southwell and Warwick bumpers this term, drawing clear from 3 previous winners for latest victory 32 days ago. This is a whole different test against the Irish challengers, though.
12		12. IT'S FOR ME (FR) J: P. Townend T: W. P. Mullins, Ireland	5 11-7		BET
Emphatic point winner and very well backed as he came clear for a 10-length victory in Navan bumper 7 weeks ago. Another top contender in Willie Mullins' ten (same connections as Fun Fun Fun).
13		13. KING OF KINGSFIELD (IRE) J: Jordan Colin Gainford T: Gordon Elliott, Ireland	5 11-7		BET
Easy point scorer who landed Down Royal bumper in November won by Sir Gerhard (won this in 2021) and American Mike (second in this last year). Ran poorly fitted with a hood behind Fascile Mode and co at Leopardstown over Christmas, though. Others preferred.
14		14. LECKY WATSON (IRE) J: Jack Foley T: W. P. Mullins, Ireland	5 11-7		BET
Looked unlucky not to make a successful start at Fairyhouse last spring and felt the wrath of the stewards' himself 7 months on at Punchestown (first past post but demoted). Another good effort behind Fascile Mode at Leopardstown over Christmas but surprising if he opens his account in this.
15		15. LOUGHGLYNN (IRE) J: M. J. M. O'Sullivan T: W. P. Mullins, Ireland	5 11-7		BET
Promising start in good Fairyhouse bumper and much improved when landing Naas contest 8 months on, responding well to see off a subsequent winner. Plenty more needed to land a blow in this.
16		16. NO TIME TO WAIT (IRE) J: Davy Russell T: Gordon Elliott, Ireland	5 11-7		BET
Faller in 2 points but has done better in bumpers, easily making all on second go at Down Royal 7 weeks ago. Way more needed to get involved here.
17		17. WESTERN DIEGO (IRE) J: Rachael Blackmore T: W. P. Mullins, Ireland	6 11-7		BET
£125,000 point winner who made all impressively in 19f Naas bumper in January, quickening clear with a bit in hand. More to come and another big player in the Willie Mullins team.
18		18. WESTPORT COVE (FR) J: D. E. Mullins T: W. P. Mullins, Ireland	5 11-7		BET
Strong in the betting and overcame inexperience to make a winning start at Fairyhouse 2 months ago, drawing clear. Another in the frame for the Willie Mullins stable.
19		19. FUN FUN FUN (IRE) J: Daryl Jacob T: W. P. Mullins, Ireland	5 11-0		BET
Highly promising sort who has won Sligo contest and (for new owners) Leopardstown Grade 2 mares' event in sensational fashion, value for even more than the 9½ length-winning margin last month. Relegate won the same race for the yard before taking this in 2018 and her claims are obvious.
20		20. QUEENS GAMBLE (IRE) J: Jonathan Burke T: Oliver Sherwood	5 11-0		BET
Looked a class act as she won her first 2 starts in mares' bumpers here, ridden more handily and well on top for listed C&D success in November. Ran well in defeat conceding 4 lb to one better suited by the test of speed at Market Rasen 5 weeks ago and definitely worth remaining positive about.
21		21. D ART D ART (FR) J: Donagh Meyler T: Thomas Cooper, Ireland	4 10-11		BET
Overcame inexperience to make a winning debut in Gowran event under Patrick Mullins 7 weeks ago, taking a while to hit top gear. A stiffer test here sure to suit him but he has lots to find.
22		22. FIERCELY PROUD (IRE) J: Luca Morgan T: Ben Pauling	4 10-11		BET
Justified market confidence when winning Market Rasen bumper on debut in October (subsequently sold from Don Cantillon £125,000) and still looked rough around the edges when landing listed contest here on New Year's Day. That form still way short of what will be required to get involved in this.
23		23. SAMUI J: Sam Ewing T: Gordon Elliott, Ireland	4 10-11		BET
From a good NH family and justified favouritism in good style on debut at Naas last month. Entitled to improve for top yard but this is a whole different test.
24		24. SHINJI (IRE) J: Aidan Coleman T: Martin Keighley	4 10-11		BET
Proved a class apart in Fakenham bumper for Roger Varian (subsequently sold £60,000) in November. Ran well but looked headstrong in listed event at Newbury last month and hood goes on now. Plenty to find.
Betting Forecast : 9/2 4.5 A DREAM TO SHARE, 11/2 5.5 FUN FUN FUN, 13/2 6.5 IT's FOR ME, 9/1 9 FACT TO FILE, 12/1 12 QUEENS GAMBLE, 16/1 16 ENCANTO BRUNO, 16/1 16 WESTERN DIEGO, 20/1 20 BETTER DAYS AHEAD, 25/1 25 CHAPEAU DE SOLEIL, 33/1 33 WESTPORT COVE, 40/1 40 LOUGHGLYNN, 40/1 40 FAVOUR AND FORTUNE, 50/1 50 CAPTAIN TEAGUE, 66/1 66 LECKY WATSON, 66/1 66 FIERCELY PROUD, 66/1 66 KING OF KINGSFIELD, 66/1 66 NO TIME TO WAIT, 66/1 66 FASCILE MODE, 66/1 66 SAMUI, 80/1 80 CHOSEN WITNESS, 80/1 80 D ART D ART, 100/1 100 BEACHCOMBER, 300/1 300 SHINJI, 300/1 300 CAPTAIN CODY

The Champion Bumper is the most prestigious race of its type in the National Hunt calendar, and has been won in the past by some horses that have gone on to be top-class performers over jumps, notably Florida Pearl and Dunguib.

Cue Card and Champagne Fever are two of the more successful winners of the race in recent years, both of whom went on to achieve further success at the Cheltenham Festival, in the Ryanair Chase and Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, respectively.

Cue Card always struck of a horse with any amount of ability, but it took him a few years to get to full capacity.

His victory in the 2013 Ryanair Chase was the best performance on Timeform ratings since the inaugural running in 2005, Cue Card making most and deserving extra credit given the mistakes he made during the race.

His burst of speed between the last two flights left his rivals for dead, beating a high-class performer in First Lieutenant by nine lengths.

Cue Card went on to win six more times at the highest level – including three wins in the Betfair Chase at Haydock – and was arguably in with a very good chance of winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2016, still travelling ominously well and moving upsides the leaders when making a rare jumping lapse three from home.

The 2019 renewal of the Champion Bumper was won by Envoi Allen, who was well backed ahead of the race and rewarded backers with a second win in the race for trainer Gordon Elliott.

The most successful Champion Bumper trainer is Willie Mullins , who has won the race a remarkable nine times (he also rode the winner he trained in 1996), with: Wither Or Which (1996), Florida Pearl (1997), Alexander Banquet (1998), Joe Cullen (2000), Missed That (2005), Cousin Vinny (2008), Champagne Fever (2012), Briar Hill (2013) and Relegate (2018).

The most successful Champion Bumper jockey is

The most successful Champion Bumper jockey is Ruby Walsh, who has tasted success in the race three times, with: Alexander Banquet (1998), Missed That (2005) and Briar Hill (2013).

Champion Bumper FAQs

What is the distance of the Champion Bumper?

2 miles and 87 yards

How many obstacles are jumped in the Champion Bumper?

None

What day of the festival is the Champion Bumper?

Day 2

What time is the Champion Bumper?

17:30

What weights are carried for the Champion Bumper?

10st 11lbs (4yo). 11st 5lb (5yo-6yo). 7lb allowance for fillies and mares.

What is the purse for the Champion Bumper?

£75,000 (2019)

Who is the leading jockey in the Champion Bumper?

Ruby Walsh

Who is the leading trainer in the Champion Bumper?

Willie Mullins

Who won the Champion Bumper?

You can check out our Champion Bumper results page here to see a list of previous winners.

Where can I compare the odds for the Champion Bumper?

Click the link to visit our Champion Bumper Odds Comparison page.