Champion Bumper

Often described as the ‘Irish benefit’ race, raiders from the Emerald Isle have taken this contest no less than fourteen times since the race was established in 1992. Trainer Willie Mullins has won the Champion Bumper an impressive six times during that period and his horses often come in for some heavy support. Mullins’ latest winner was Cousin Vinny in 2008; a horse who went on to complete the bumper double that year when winning the Punchestown equivalent.

The race itself is a National Hunt Flat race and is open to horses aged between four and six. The distance is 2 miles, 110 yards and it is run over the old course at Cheltenham, usually on day two of the festival. Good recent form is a big plus; and horses that were successful last-time-out have won 15 of the 17 Champion Bumpers to date.

The Champion Bumper is the UK’s most celebrated National Hunt flat race and it’s most famous winner yet was the Willie Mullins trained Florida Pearl. Amongst other races, Florida Pearl went on to win the Royal & SunAlliance Chase, the King George VI Chase, and a record four Hennessy Cognac Gold Cups; making him a true Irish great.

Just three favourites have won the Champion Bumper since its inception - but the 2009 winner Dunguib was well supported on Betfair pre-race, eventually going off around [6.0]. There have been two very big-priced winners in the race’s history namely Monsignor (50/1) in 1999 and Hairy Molly (33/1) in 2006.

The 2010 renewal is scheduled to take place on St Patricks Day, Wednesday 17th March and carries a total prize fund of £60,000.