Champion Bumper
Encyclopedia
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 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.
Leading jockey
(2 wins):
----
Leading trainer
(6 wins):
The 2001 running was cancelled because of a foot-and-mouth crisis.
Recurring sporting events established in 1992 – this race is included under its original title, Festival Bumper.
National Hunt racing
National Hunt racing is the official name given to the sport of horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Ireland in which the horses are required to jump over obstacles called hurdles or fences...
flat race
National Hunt flat race
National Hunt Flat races, informally known as Bumper races, are flat races run under National Hunt racing rules in Britain and Ireland....
in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
which is open to horses
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
aged four to six years. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham
Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham Racecourse is a racecourse for horse racing events, located at Prestbury Park, in the suburban village of Prestbury on the outskirts of the English town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire...
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
Cheltenham Festival
The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most prestigious meetings in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, and has race prize money second only to the Grand National...
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
The Tote
The Tote, formerly the Horserace Totalisator Board, is a British bookmaker with head offices in Wigan. It was owned from its formation in 1928 by the UK Government but was sold to Betfred in July 2011. Under the brand totesport the Tote has 514 high street betting shops, outlets on Britain's 60...
and Guinness
Guinness
Guinness is a popular Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. James's Gate, Dublin. Guinness is directly descended from the porter style that originated in London in the early 18th century and is one of the most successful beer brands worldwide, brewed in almost...
. A more sustained period of sponsorship began when Weatherbys
Weatherbys
Weatherbys provides British Horseracing with its central administration, acts as its bank and maintains the founding Thoroughbred breed register...
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
Florida Pearl
Florida Pearl is an Irish-bred race horse, who raced in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was owned by Mrs Violet O'Leary and trained by Willie Mullins...
and Dunguib
Dunguib
Dunguib is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who became the second horse to complete the Cheltenham and Punchestown double in 2009 for trainer Philip Fenton and owners Daniel Harnett and Lily Lawlor...
. Occasionally leading jockeys from Flat racing
Flat racing
Flat racing is a form of Thoroughbred horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance. It differs from steeplechase racing which is run over hurdles...
ride in the race and the 2002 winner, Pizarro, was ridden by Jamie Spencer
Jamie Spencer
Jamie Spencer is an Irish flat racing jockey currently riding in the UK. He has been champion jockey in both Ireland and Britain and has won four classics, two in each country. Spencer is widely regarded as one of the best, and most naturally talented, UK-based jockeys - despite not having a...
, a Flat racing jockey.
Records
Leading jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
(2 wins):
- Richard DunwoodyRichard DunwoodyThomas Richard Dunwoody MBE is a retired British jockey in National Hunt racing. He was a three-time Champion Jockey, riding 1699 British winners in his career. His father was a leading Point to Point rider...
– Montelado (1992), Florida Pearl (1997) - Paul CarberryPaul CarberryPaul Carberry is an Irish National Hunt jockey.- Background :He was born on 9 February 1974. He hails from a racing family. He is the son of jockey Tommy Carberry, who was a famous National Hunt jockey in the 1960s and 1970s. His uncle is Arthur Moore, one of Ireland's leading National Hunt trainers...
– Rhythm Section (1993), Hairy Molly (2006) - Charlie Swan – Mucklemeg (1994), Joe Cullen (2000)
----
Leading trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
(6 wins):
- Willie MullinsWillie MullinsWillie Mullins is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is based at Closutton, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, Ireland...
– 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 Richard DunwoodyThomas Richard Dunwoody MBE is a retired British jockey in National Hunt racing. He was a three-time Champion Jockey, riding 1699 British winners in his career. His father was a leading Point to Point rider...Pat Flynn Patrick J. FlynnPatrick J. Flynn is a successful race horse trainer. Among the winners the he has trained are:Alalja, winner of:*1992 Debutante Stakes Montelado, winner of:*1992 Champion Bumper*1993 Supreme Novices' HurdleSalmon Eile, winner of:...1993 Rhythm Section Rhythm sectionA rhythm section is a collection of musicians who make up a section of instruments which provides the accompaniment section of the music, giving the music its rhythmic texture and pulse, also serving as a rhythmic reference for the rest of the band...4 Paul Carberry Paul CarberryPaul Carberry is an Irish National Hunt jockey.- Background :He was born on 9 February 1974. He hails from a racing family. He is the son of jockey Tommy Carberry, who was a famous National Hunt jockey in the 1960s and 1970s. His uncle is Arthur Moore, one of Ireland's leading National Hunt trainers...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 MullinsWillie Mullins is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is based at Closutton, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, Ireland...Willie Mullins Willie MullinsWillie Mullins is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is based at Closutton, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, Ireland...1997 Florida Pearl Florida PearlFlorida Pearl is an Irish-bred race horse, who raced in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was owned by Mrs Violet O'Leary and trained by Willie Mullins...5 Richard Dunwoody Richard DunwoodyThomas Richard Dunwoody MBE is a retired British jockey in National Hunt racing. He was a three-time Champion Jockey, riding 1699 British winners in his career. His father was a leading Point to Point rider...Willie Mullins Willie MullinsWillie Mullins is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is based at Closutton, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, Ireland...1998 Alexander Banquet 5 Mr Ruby Walsh Ruby WalshRuby Walsh is the reigning Irish National Hunt champion jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen.-Success:...Willie Mullins Willie MullinsWillie Mullins is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is based at Closutton, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, Ireland...1999 Monsignor 5 Brendan Powell Mark Pitman 2000 Joe Cullen 5 Charlie Swan Willie Mullins Willie MullinsWillie Mullins is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is based at Closutton, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, Ireland...no race 2001 2002 Pizarro 5 Jamie Spencer Jamie SpencerJamie Spencer is an Irish flat racing jockey currently riding in the UK. He has been champion jockey in both Ireland and Britain and has won four classics, two in each country. Spencer is widely regarded as one of the best, and most naturally talented, UK-based jockeys - despite not having a...Edward O'Grady 2003 Liberman 5 Tony McCoy Tony McCoyAnthony Peter McCoy OBE , commonly known as A. P. McCoy or Tony McCoy, is a Northern Irish horse racing jockey....Martin Pipe Martin PipeMartin Pipe was a racehorse trainer until his retirement in April 2006.The son of a West-Country bookmaker, Pipe was an amateur jockey before turning his attention to training in 1974 at Nicholashayne, Devon, near Wellington, England....2004 Total Enjoyment 5 Jim Culloty Jim CullotyJim Culloty is a racehorse trainer and retired professional National Hunt jockey who won both the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National in the same season....Tom Cooper 2005 Missed That 6 Ruby Walsh Ruby WalshRuby Walsh is the reigning Irish National Hunt champion jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen.-Success:...Willie Mullins Willie MullinsWillie Mullins is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is based at Closutton, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, Ireland...2006 Hairy Molly 6 Paul Carberry Paul CarberryPaul Carberry is an Irish National Hunt jockey.- Background :He was born on 9 February 1974. He hails from a racing family. He is the son of jockey Tommy Carberry, who was a famous National Hunt jockey in the 1960s and 1970s. His uncle is Arthur Moore, one of Ireland's leading National Hunt trainers...Joseph Crowley 2007 Cork All Star 5 Barry Geraghty Barry GeraghtyBarry Geraghty is an Irish jockey.Geraghty rode his first winner in January 1997, three years later he became the Irish Champion jump jockey for the first time. He rode his first Cheltenham winner on the Jessica Harrington trained Moscow Flyer in the 2002 Arkle Chase.He won the Grand National in...Jessica Harrington 2008 Cousin Vinny 5 Mr Patrick Mullins Willie Mullins Willie MullinsWillie Mullins is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is based at Closutton, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, Ireland...2009 Dunguib DunguibDunguib is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who became the second horse to complete the Cheltenham and Punchestown double in 2009 for trainer Philip Fenton and owners Daniel Harnett and Lily Lawlor...6 Mr Brian O'Connell Philip Fenton 2010 Cue Card Cue cardCue cards, also known as note cards or idiot cards, are cards with words written on them that help actors and speakers remember what they have to say. They are typically used in television productions where they can be held off-camera and are unseen by the audience...4 Joe Tizzard Colin Tizzard 2011 Cheltenian 5 Richard Johnson Richard Johnson (jockey)Richard Johnson is an English National Hunt jockey.-Background:Johnson comes from a racing family with his father being an amateur jockey and his mother, Sue Johnson, a successful trainer.-Jockey career:...Philip Hobbs Philip HobbsPhilip Hobbs is a British racehorse trainer specializing mainly in National Hunt racing. He is based at stables near Minehead, Somerset....
The 2001 running was cancelled because of a foot-and-mouth crisis.
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.