- Champion Bumper
-
Grade 1 race
Champion BumperLocation Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham, EnglandInaugurated 1992 Race type National Hunt flat race Sponsor Weatherbys Website Cheltenham Race information Distance 2m ½f (3,319 metres) Track Turf, left-handed Qualification Four to six years old Weight 10 st 12 lb (4yo);
11 st 5 lb (5–6yo)
Allowances
7 lb for fillies and maresPurse £60,000 (2010)
1st: £34,206The 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 110 yards (3,319 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.
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.
Contents
Records
Leading jockey (2 wins):
- Richard Dunwoody – Montelado (1992), Florida Pearl (1997)
- Paul Carberry – Rhythm Section (1993), Hairy Molly (2006)
- Charlie Swan – Mucklemeg (1994), Joe Cullen (2000)
Leading trainer (6 wins):
- Willie Mullins – Wither or Which (1996), Florida Pearl (1997), Alexander Banquet (1998), Joe Cullen (2000), Missed That (2005), Cousin Vinny (2008)
Winners
- Amateur jockeys indicated by "Mr".
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 Mr Willie Mullins Willie Mullins 1997 Florida Pearl 5 Richard Dunwoody Willie Mullins 1998 Alexander Banquet 5 Mr Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 1999 Monsignor 5 Brendan Powell Mark Pitman 2000 Joe Cullen 5 Charlie Swan Willie Mullins no race 2001 [1] 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 Mr Patrick Mullins Willie Mullins 2009 Dunguib 6 Mr Brian O'Connell Philip Fenton 2010 Cue Card 4 Joe Tizzard Colin Tizzard 2011 Cheltenian 5 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs 1 The 2001 running was cancelled because of a foot-and-mouth crisis.
References
- pedigreequery.com – Champion Bumper – Cheltenham.
- racenewsonline.co.uk – Racenews Archive (February 28, 2008).
See also
- Horseracing in Great Britain
- List of British National Hunt races
- Recurring sporting events established in 1992 – this race is included under its original title, Festival Bumper.
Tuesday Supreme Novices' Hurdle · Arkle Challenge Trophy · Stewart Family Spinal Research Handicap Chase · Champion Hurdle · Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase · David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle · Centenary Novices' Handicap ChaseWednesday National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup · Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle · RSA Chase · Queen Mother Champion Chase · Coral Cup · Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Handicap Hurdle · Champion BumperThursday Jewson Novices' Chase · Pertemps Final · Ryanair Chase · World Hurdle · Byrne Group Plate · Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge CupFriday Triumph Hurdle · Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle · Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle · Cheltenham Gold Cup · Christie's Foxhunter Chase · Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle · Johnny Henderson Grand Annual ChaseDiscontinued Cathcart Challenge CupCategories:- National Hunt races in Great Britain
- Cheltenham Racecourse
- National Hunt flat races
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