The Champion Bumper is a Grade 1 National Hunt flat race in Great Britain which is open to racing 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 11 lb (4yo);
11 st 7 lb (5–6yo)
Allowances
7 lb for fillies and mares
Purse£80,000 (2023)
1st: £45,560
Champion Bumper
2024
Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green cap, emerald green spots Black, white sash, white sleeves, black stars, black cap, white star Maroon, white star, armlets and star on cap
Jasmin De Vaux Romeo Coolio Jalon D'oudairies
Previous years
2023
Emerald Green, Yellow hoops, Emerald Green cap, White star Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Royal blue, pink hoops, armlets and cap
A Dream To Share Fact To File Captain Teague
2022
Red, royal blue sleeves, red cap, royal blue star White, emerald green chevrons, red cap Dark blue, yellow stripe, red cap
Facile Vega American Mike James's Gate
2021
Red, white sash, royal blue cap Royal blue, emerald green diamonds, emerald green sleeves, striped cap Pink, brown epaulets, sleeves and cap
Sir Gerhard Kilcruit Elle Est Belle
2020-2011
2020
Red, white sash, royal blue cap Royal blue, emerald green diamonds, emerald green sleeves, striped cap White, emerald green chevrons, red cap
Ferny Hollow Appreciate It Queens Brook
2019
Red, white sash, royal blue cap Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Purple, emerald green hoop, checked sleeves, white cap
Envoi Allen Blue Sari Thyme Hill
2018
Black, white epaulets, white cap, black star Royal blue, emerald green diamonds, emerald green sleeves, striped cap Emerald green and white diamonds, emerald green cap
Relegate Carefully Selected Tornado Flyer
2017
Emerald green, white chevron, white sleeves, emerald green armlets, red cap Royal blue, yellow star, striped sleeves, yellow cap Black, pink epaulets, hooped sleeves and cap
Fayonagh Debuchet Claimantakinforgan
2016
Red, white disc, diabolo on sleeves Black and beige (halved), chevrons on sleeves, beige cap Black, yellow stars, yellow sleeves, black stars, yellow cap, black stars
Ballyandy Battleford Bacardys
2015
Dark green, red cross belts, dark green and beige striped sleeves, dark green cap, green star Royal blue and white diamonds, white sleeves, royal blue armlets, quartered cap Royal blue, white star, royal blue sleeves, white stars and stars on cap
Moon Racer Modus Wait For Me
2014
Purple, yellow cross of lorraine, yellow cap Black and beige (halved), chevrons on sleeves, beige cap Pink, emerald green hooped sleeves
Silver Concorde Shaneshill Joshua Lane
2013
Beige and black (halved), chevrons on sleeves, beige cap Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Yellow, dark blue sash, dark blue cap, yellow star
Briar Hill Regal Encore Golantilla
2012
Pink, light green spots, pink sleeves and cap Black, black and maroon striped cap Royal blue, light blue star, white sleeves, royal blue stars, white cap, royal blue star
Champagne Fever New Year's Eve Pique Sous
2011
Light blue, pink chevrons, light blue sleeves, light blue cap, pink star Purple, yellow sash, light blue sleeves, yellow cap Black, yellow chevron, black cap
Cheltenian Destroyer Deployed Aupcharlie
2010-2001
2010
Royal blue, pink star on body and cap, royal blue sleeves, pink stars Yellow, red star, yellow sleeves, white armlets, yellow cap, red star Orange, black seams, striped sleeves and cap
Cue Card Al Ferof Frawley
2009
White, black diamond and sleeves, check cap Orange, black star, diabolo on sleeves, white and black hooped cap Purple, yellow cross of lorraine, yellow cap
Dunguib Some Present Rite of Passage
2008
YELLOW, black braces, yellow cap PURPLE, pink diamond, pink sleeves, purple diamonds, white cap, purple star Yellow, Red chevron, Red armlets, Red star on cap
Cousin Vinny Corskeagh Royale Zaarito
2007
DARK GREEN, dark green cap, light green star White, Black and Orange striped sleeves and cap Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap
Cork All Star Sophocles Aranleigh
2006
PURPLE, emerald green diamond, emerald green diamond on cap Pink and purple (quartered), purple sleeves, white cap, mauve spots Orange, beige armlets
Hairy Molly Pressgang Kicks For Free
2005
Red, white hooped sleeves, red cap, white spots Dark Blue, Yellow cross belts, collar and cuffs, striped cap Beige, Brown hooped sleeves, Orange cap
Missed That De Soto Rasharrow
2004
EMERALD GREEN, yellow spots, check sleeves, emerald green cap, yellow spots Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves and cap Dark blue
Total Enjoyment Refinement Master Albert
2003
Royal blue, emerald green sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots Emerald green and yellow quartered, white sleeves and cap Red, black diabolo, hooped sleeves, quartered cap
Liberman Trabolgan Widemouth Bay
2002
Royal blue and yellow diabolo, yellow diamonds on sleeves, red cap Dark blue ORANGE and PURPLE DIAMONDS, purple sleeves, purple cap, orange diamonds
Pizarro Rhinestone Cowboy Back in Front
2000-1992
2000
Emerald green, pink diamond and sleeves, white cap Emerald green and yellow quartered, white sleeves and cap Red, white hooped sleeves, red cap, white spots
Joe Cullen Inca Be My Royal
1999
Black and white check, yellow sleeves, black and white quartered cap Royal blue, emerald green sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots Green, white star, diabolo on sleeves, green cap, white spots
Monsignor Golden Alpha Canasta
1998
Royal blue, pink star, pink sleeves, blue stars, pink cap Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap Green, dark blue cross-belts and armlets, quartered cap
Alexander Banquet Joe Mac Frantic Tan
1997
Red, white hooped sleeves, red cap, white spots Mauve and yellow check, yellow sleeves Orange, white sash, white cap, green star
Florida Pearl Arctic Camper All The Colours
1996
EMERALD GREEN, royal blue sleeves, emerald green cap, white star Light blue, red epaulets, light blue sleeves, red armlets, red cap Pale blue, scarlet cap
Wither Or Which Alzulu Mighty Moss
1995
Yellow, green star on body and on cap Black, white sash, white sleeves, black armlets, striped cap Maroon, black cap
Dato Star Red Blazer Skehanagh Bridge
1994
Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap Dark Blue and White check, Dark Blue sleeves, White cap, Dark Blue star Turquoise and silver diamonds
Mucklemeg Aries Girl Go Ballistic
1993
EMERALD GREEN, royal blue sleeves, emerald green cap, white star Red, black cross-belts, hooped sleeves White, green hoop, sleeves and cap
Rhythm Section Heist Winter Belle
1992
Blue, yellow hoop and sleeves, quartered cap Dark blue Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves and cap
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 Cue Card. 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

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Leading jockey (4 wins):

  • Patrick Mullins – Cousin Vinny (2008), Champagne Fever (2012), Facile Vega (2022), Jasmin De Vaux (2024)

Leading trainer (13 wins):

  • Willie MullinsWither 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), Jasmin De Vaux (2024)

Winners

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Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer
1992 Montelado 5 Richard Dunwoody Patrick J. "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[a] Willie Mullins
1997 Florida Pearl 5 Richard Dunwoody Willie Mullins
1998 Alexander Banquet 5 Ruby Walsh[a] Willie Mullins
1999 Monsignor 5 Brendan Powell Mark Pitman
2000 Joe Cullen 5 Charlie Swan Willie Mullins
no race 2001 [b]
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[a] Willie Mullins
2009 Dunguib 6 Brian O'Connell[a] Philip Fenton
2010 Cue Card 4 Joe Tizzard Colin Tizzard
2011 Cheltenian 5 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs
2012 Champagne Fever 5 Patrick Mullins[a] Willie Mullins
2013 Briar Hill 5 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2014 Silver Concorde 6 Robbie McNamara[a] Dermot Weld
2015 Moon Racer 6 Tom Scudamore David Pipe
2016 Ballyandy 5 Sam Twiston-Davies Nigel Twiston-Davies
2017 Fayonagh 6 Jamie Codd[a] Gordon Elliott
2018 Relegate 5 Katie Walsh[a] Willie Mullins
2019 Envoi Allen 5 Jamie Codd[a] Gordon Elliott
2020 Ferny Hollow 5 Paul Townend Willie Mullins
2021 Sir Gerhard 6 Rachael Blackmore Willie Mullins
2022 Facile Vega 5 Patrick Mullins[a] Willie Mullins
2023 A Dream To Share 5 John Gleeson[a] John Kiely
2024 Jasmin De Vaux 5 Patrick Mullins[a] Willie Mullins
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l amateur jockey
  2. ^ The 2001 running was cancelled because of a foot-and-mouth crisis

See also

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References

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