Recent entries in Horse Racing
2010 Cheltenham Champion Bumper betting and odds
Eoin Ryan / 23 February 2010 Free Bet View Market
Dermot Weld trains both the second and third favourite in the Champion Bumper ante-post market.
"This year, due to a combination of the yard being under a cloud but also a lack of firepower in this division, the baton may pass to Dermot Weld; although Mullins has Day Of A Lifetime at the top of Betfair’s market at [8.6]."
Rarely has a Champion Bumper inspired so little ante post debate, or punting for that matter. Ireland dominates the races' history and a succession of top class hurdlers and chasers have carried a weight of punts and euro to victory over the race's short history - Dunguib being the most recent example.
This year, unless I am missing something, all seems quiet on the bumper front. Willie Mullins usually has about a million runners and monopolizes the front end of the market. This year, due to a combination of the yard being under a cloud but also a lack of firepower in this division, the baton may pass to Dermot Weld; although Mullins has Day Of A Lifetime at the top of Betfair's market at [8.6].
Weld supplies both Hidden Universe [9.8] and Elegant Concorde [10.0]. The former scooted up at Leopardstown in late January, winning by 10 lengths. However, none of those in behind him that day (save for the last placed horse) have run since, so whilst the performance was impressive, we don't yet know the real merit of it. Elegant Concorde won a good bumper at Leopardstown over Christmas and the third placed horse that day has subsequently boosted the form, so we can say with confidence that he is a worthy main contender.
Others worthy of close consideration include Araucaria, who hacked up at Punchestown in late Jan. Trained by John Kiely (who has had some smart bumper horses lately) one could not but be impressed with the manner of his victory that day.
Paul Nicholls supplies the leading home trained challenger in Al Ferof, who won a decent looking Newbury heat with Ruby up. The overall level of that form would probably leave him with a deal to find though, and his earlier career form in Ireland wouldn't appear up to scratch, though clearly he has improved a good deal for the change of yards.
Another WP inmate, Up Ou That, was the subject of a positive report from his handler recently and could well play a prominent role. Finally, Megastar impressed me at Sandown in November (I was present trackside that day) but he was subsequently beaten at Wincanton and the form has been let down. The race should still be booked for export but it's certainly not the foregone conclusion that it normally is - a race to tread carefully in, in my view.
