Racecards
17:45 Cheltenham
Weatherbys Champion Bumper (A Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race) (Class A)
- 24 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good
Brassie
55- Form 12
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer R M Beckett
- Jockey T Doyle
held up in rear, effort into mid-division 6f out, soon weakened
- Form 1-64
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
mid-division, weakened halfway
- Form 120
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer Jamie Poulton
- Jockey C Bolger
held up, ridden after 6f, stayed on from over 1f out, never near leaders
- Form P-13
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
mid-division, headway after 3f, pushed along halfway, lost place and well behind 4f out, stayed on again final 2f
- Form 1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey R Johnson
chased leaders, led after 6f, headed 6f out, weakened over 3f out
- Form 5-12
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey D J Casey
mid-division, ridden 5f out, no danger when hung left and ran out through rails well over 2f out
Itsa Legend
11- Form 12
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
mid-division, ridden halfway, headway over 3f out, no impression final 2f
- Form 1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
held up, headway over 4f out, chased winner going well 3f out, one pace final furlong
- Form 221
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey C Llewellyn
in touch, headway to chase leaders after 3f, lost place 4f out, never dangerous after
- Form 1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Mr J J Codd
with leaders, led 6f out, ridden and headed 4f out, ran green and lost place 3f out
- Form 11
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer C Roche
- Jockey Fran Berry
held up, headway 5f out, weakened over 2f out
- Form S12
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer D Wachman
- Jockey Mr J P Magnier
held up towards rear, headway 4f out, still plenty to do 2f out, stayed on well final furlong, nearest finish
- Form 1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey L Cooper
with leaders, hung right and ridden 5f out, soon weakened and eased, tailed off
- Form 21
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer M Halford
- Jockey Paul Carberry
held up in rear, headway 6f out, disputed 2nd well over 1f out, not quicken final furlong
Our Ben
21- Form 1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey A P McCoy
chased leaders, weakened over 3f out,
See More Jock
263- Form R-R20
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer Dr J Naylor
- Jockey A Thornton
pulled hard early, always behind
- Form 1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer J Parkinson & S Smith
- Jockey D Elsworth
pulled hard and prominent, weakened quickly 7f out, tailed off
- Form 01
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Richard Hughes
keen early, always towards rear
- Form 1133
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer P Pritchard
- Jockey M Bradburne
led for 6f, with leaders until weakened over 3f out
- Form 641
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer M Hourigan
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
held up in rear, good headway 3f out, stayed on same pace from over 1f out
- Form 11
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey B J Geraghty
held up in rear, steady headway from 6f out, chased winner over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, not trouble winner
- Form 1
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
prominent, ridden 4f out, stayed on same pace final 2f
- Form 311
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Thomas Cooper
- Jockey J Culloty
in touch, smooth headway on inside to lead 4f out, pushed along over 2f out, ran on strongly final furlong
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Although failing to get one runner into the first six home in this event last year, the Irish challenge is stronger here than in any other race at the Festival and, with the team of Willie Mullins having an outstanding record in the bumper, his quintet of Gayle Abated, Granny Kellys Tart, Knocknabooly, Major Vernon and Our Ben, look the five to concentrate on with the vote going to Knocknabooly. The mount of Ruby Walsh was an impressive winner of his only start in a Gowran Park bumper last month and remains open to plenty of improvement. Martinstown has been the favourite for this event ever since winning impressively at Fairyhouse in November and has to be respected but, at the odds, he looks worth taking on. Jonjo O'Neill looks to hold the strongest claims among the home challengers and is responsible for two undefeated runners in the shape of Millenaire and Refinement, while Nicky Henderson, who sent out Trabaolgan to finish second 12 months ago relies upon The Thunderer, who bounced back from a disappointing debut effort when landing a decent Newbury contest last time. Plenty of others have claims and a close inspection of the market is strongly advised but history tells us that Willie Mullins probably holds the key with Knocknabooly the pick of his five.