Champion Bumper

The Champion Bumper is a Grade 1 National Hunt flat race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four to six years. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and ½ furlong (2 miles and 87 yards, or 3,298 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Champion Bumper
Grade 1 race
LocationCheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham, England
Inaugurated1992
Race typeNational Hunt flat race
SponsorWeatherbys
WebsiteCheltenham
Race information
Distance2m 87y (3,298 metres)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationFour to six years old
Weight10 st 12 lb (4yo);
11 st 5 lb (5–6yo)
Allowances
7 lb for fillies and mares
Purse£56,250 (2021)
1st: £31,652
Champion Bumper
2022
Facile Vega American Mike James's Gate
Previous years
2021
Sir Gerhard Kilcruit Elle Est Belle
2020-2011
2020
Ferny Hollow Appreciate It Queens Brook
2019
Envoi Allen Blue Sari Thyme Hill
2018
Relegate Carefully Selected Tornado Flyer
2017
Fayonagh Debuchet Claimantakinforgan
2016
Ballyandy Battleford Bacardys
2015
Moon Racer Modus Wait For Me
2014
Silver Concorde Shaneshill Joshua Lane
2013
Briar Hill Regal Encore Golantilla
2012
Champagne Fever New Year's Eve Pique Sous
2011
Cheltenian Destroyer Deployed Aupcharlie
2010-2001
2010
Cue Card Al Ferof Frawley
2009
Dunguib Some Present Rite of Passage
2008
Cousin Vinny Corskeagh Royale Zaarito
2007
Cork All Star Sophocles Aranleigh
2006
Hairy Molly Pressgang Kicks For Free
2005
Missed That De Soto Rasharrow
2004
Total Enjoyment Refinement Master Albert
2003
Liberman Trabolgan Widemouth Bay
2002
Pizarro Rhinestone Cowboy Back in Front
2000-1992
2000
Joe Cullen Inca Be My Royal
1999
Monsignor Golden Alpha Canasta
1998
Alexander Banquet Joe Mac Frantic Tan
1997
Florida Pearl Arctic Camper All The Colours
1996
Wither Or Which Alzulu Mighty Moss
1995
Dato Star Red Blazer Skehanagh Bridge
1994
Mucklemeg Aries Girl Go Ballistic
1993
Rhythm Section Heist Winter Belle
1992
Montelado Tiananmen Square Maneree
 

The event was established in 1992, and it was initially called the Festival Bumper. In its early years it had various sponsors, including the Tote and Guinness. A more sustained period of sponsorship began when Weatherbys began supporting the race in 1997, and since then it has been known by its present title.

The Champion Bumper is the most prestigious flat race, or "bumper", in the National Hunt calendar. It often features horses which go on to become leading performers over obstacles, such as Florida Pearl and Dunguib. Occasionally leading jockeys from Flat racing ride in the race and the 2002 winner, Pizarro, was ridden by Jamie Spencer, a Flat racing jockey.

Records

Leading jockey (3 wins):

  • Ruby Walsh – Alexander Banquet (1998), Missed That (2005), Briar Hill (2013)
  • Patrick Mullins – Cousin Vinny (2008), Champagne Fever (2012), Facile Vega (2022)

Leading trainer (12 wins):

  • Willie Mullins – Wither or Which (1996), Florida Pearl (1997), Alexander Banquet (1998), Joe Cullen (2000), Missed That (2005), Cousin Vinny (2008), Champagne Fever (2012), Briar Hill (2013), Relegate (2018), Ferny Hollow (2020), Sir Gerhard (2021), Facile Vega (2022)

Winners
Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer
1992 Montelado 5 Richard Dunwoody Pat Flynn
1993 Rhythm Section 4 Paul Carberry Homer Scott
1994 Mucklemeg 6 Charlie Swan Edward O'Grady
1995 Dato Star 4 Mark Dwyer Malcolm Jefferson
1996 Wither or Which 5 Willie Mullins[lower-alpha 1] Willie Mullins
1997 Florida Pearl 5 Richard Dunwoody Willie Mullins
1998 Alexander Banquet 5 Ruby Walsh[lower-alpha 1] Willie Mullins
1999 Monsignor 5 Brendan Powell Mark Pitman
2000 Joe Cullen 5 Charlie Swan Willie Mullins
no race 2001 [lower-alpha 2]
2002 Pizarro 5 Jamie Spencer Edward O'Grady
2003 Liberman 5 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe
2004 Total Enjoyment 5 Jim Culloty Tom Cooper
2005 Missed That 6 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2006 Hairy Molly 6 Paul Carberry Joseph Crowley
2007 Cork All Star 5 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington
2008 Cousin Vinny 5 Patrick Mullins[lower-alpha 1] Willie Mullins
2009 Dunguib 6 Brian O'Connell[lower-alpha 1] Philip Fenton
2010 Cue Card 4 Joe Tizzard Colin Tizzard
2011 Cheltenian 5 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs
2012 Champagne Fever 5 Patrick Mullins[lower-alpha 1] Willie Mullins
2013 Briar Hill 5 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2014 Silver Concorde 6 Robbie McNamara[lower-alpha 1] Dermot Weld
2015 Moon Racer 6 Tom Scudamore David Pipe
2016 Ballyandy 5 Sam Twiston-Davies Nigel Twiston-Davies
2017 Fayonagh 6 Jamie Codd[lower-alpha 1] Gordon Elliott
2018 Relegate 5 Katie Walsh[lower-alpha 1] Willie Mullins
2019 Envoi Allen 5 Jamie Codd[lower-alpha 1] Gordon Elliott
2020 Ferny Hollow 5 Paul Townend Willie Mullins
2021 Sir Gerhard 6 Rachael Blackmore Willie Mullins
2022 Facile Vega 5 Patrick Mullins[lower-alpha 1] Willie Mullins
  1. amateur jockey
  2. The 2001 running was cancelled because of a foot-and-mouth crisis

See also

References
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