Racecards
17:45 Cheltenham
Weatherbys Champion Bumper (A Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race) (Class A)
- 25 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Form 1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
held up mid-division, weakened and eased over 5f out
Be Fair
32- Form 1-114
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer D E Cantillon
- Jockey Michael Hills
never a factor
- Form 1-40
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey Fran Berry
held up in touch, ridden 2f out, every chance 1f out, no extra
- Form 11
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
held up mid-division, headway over 4f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace
- Form 1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey L Cooper
held up behind and never dangerous
- Form 1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey B J Geraghty
held up, headway on outside halfway, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 2f
- Form 3
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer M Pitman
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
behind, headway 7f out, weakening when pulled up over 2f out
- Form 1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer N Meade
- Jockey Paul Carberry
in touch to halfway, weakened over 4f out
Govamix
76- Form 43-1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer D K Weld
- Jockey P J Smullen
in touch, headway 4f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace
- Form 1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Mr J J Codd
in touch, ridden over 3f out, one pace
Liberman (IRE)
115- Form 21-12
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
tracked leaders, led 6f out, hard ridden from 2f out, kept on gamely, all out
Miller's Bay
111- Form 21
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer Miss H Knight
- Jockey J Culloty
mid-division, ridden and headway 4f out, kept on same pace from 2f out
- Form 1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey D J Casey
in touch, ridden and weakened 3f out
- Form 2-110
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
never better than mid-division
- Form 1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
held up, headway 4f out, soon ridden and no impression
- Form 1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer Patrick Mullins
- Jockey Richard Hughes
disputed until 7f out, weakened over 3f out
- Form 22
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey S Durack
held up mid-division, headway 7f out, ridden 2f out, every chance 1f out, kept on but no extra close home
- Form 0-1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer James Leavy
- Jockey Paul Moloney
disputed for 6f, no danger after
- Form 4-21
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer N Meade
- Jockey N Williamson
held up, headway when hampered 7f out, no impression and eased after
- Form 11
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
mid-division, headway 4f out, soon ridden, stayed on well
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
The Irish have an excellent record in this with no less than eight winners in the last decade but Martin Pipe could buck the trend with the exciting Liberman. The David Johnson-owned gelding had shown respectable form in bumpers in his native Ireland prior to making his debut for current connections over course and distance in November when creating a most favourable impression behind Rhinestone Cowboy. In a field of 24, Liberman looked the likely winner when moving smoothly to the front with five furlongs to race only to be caught close home and beaten a length behind Jonjo O'Neill's charge. The form looks solid with the pair clear of the remainder and the selection is reported in good order despite the lack of a recent outing. Willie Mullins does particularly well in this heat and saddles a strong raiding party of four including the well regarded Galway winner Royal Alphabet and the exciting Davenport Democrat, who should give a good account after an impressive victory at Fairyhouse last month. Nicky Henderson's Back To Ben Alder looked a class act when hacking up on his Kempton debut in late January while Best mate's full brother, Cornish Rebel, is another leading contender following his impressive Newbury success last month.