Champion Bumper ‘25

[RoadToCheltenham]

He’s in my P2P list but I was surprised at the whispers for him. I didn’t have him down as a bumper type but appears I’m off target with that.

Not a clue if they view him as a Champion Bumper horse to be fair but apparently goes well at home.

Couple of people have mentioned him, very much a watching brief for me today at the prices given yard form, etc.

[HoldenTheReins]

Seems somewhat of a bad crop of bumper horses so far.

Could make the novice hurdle division interesting for next season.

[darlojim]

Seems somewhat of a bad crop of bumper horses so far.

Could make the novice hurdle division interesting for next season.

Step forward the French

[Irish Rugby]

You just know something's going to debut in February, get a 128rpr and scoot home in the CB on only his 2nd bumper. What a mediocre bunch so far.

[Liammet]

A bit left field I know but is there any chance that if they got going with Maughreen or Jeroboam machin that they might decide it’s a bit late to go novice hurdling and drop them into this ?
I remember there was talk of Redemption Day doing it last year
Wont take much winning on what we have seen so far

[Lobos]

A bit left field I know but is there any chance that if they got going with Maughreen or Jeroboam machin that they might decide it’s a bit late to go novice hurdling and drop them into this ?
I remember there was talk of Redemption Day doing it last year
Wont take much winning on what we have seen so far

Must be an option yes.

[DenmanSacre]

Article on Sporting life about be bumper division from Timeform. Pipes horse rated 121 (1pound below JDV last year), Kalypso 113p, Future Prospect 105p and Ellen Kelly 107.

EK is a Mullins mare that's raced over the summer. Beat Amboyna 21 lengths, who was beat 8.25 lengths by Amen Kate.

Future Prospect still the one for me and 12/1 NRNB is good value as she likely only comes here if she wins at the DRF.

[Lobos]

The Pipe horse did look a machine.

[Lobos]

Best of British
There hasn't been a British-trained winner of the Weatherbys Champion Bumper since Ballyandy scored in 2016 and only four runners from the home team have been placed in that time. However, the clear standard-setter in the division this time around is Windbeneathmywings who was a wide-margin winner of a listed bumper at Ascot on his first start in Britain after joining David Pipe from Pat Flynn.

Windbeneathmywings had looked promising in winning two of his three starts in Ireland but raised his game markedly at Ascot where he stormed 14 lengths clear to earn a Timeform rating of 121 (replay below).

That is only 1 lb lower than the rating Jasmin de Vaux earned when winning the Champion Bumper last season, while Kilcruit and Facile Vega (both 124) are the only two horses in the last decade to arrive at that championship event at Cheltenham with a rating higher than 121