The final action of Cheltenham Day 2 is the Champion Bumper. This is another of those massive fields that make the Cheltenham Festival such a great spectacle. Trainer Willie Mullins has the favourite for the contest which is Appreciate It.
The Champion Bumper is a Grade 1 Standard Open NH Flat Race over an extended 2 mile trip. 23 horses have been entered. This has been a big stepping stone for future Cheltenham stars in the past, like Cue Card (2010), Champagne Fever (2012), Ballyandy (2016) and last year’s winner Envoi Allen.
Cheltenham Wednesday 17:30
Appreciate it 15/8
Queen’s Brook 8/1
Panic Attack 10/1
Israel Champ 11/1
Eskylane 12/1
Fenny Hollow 12/1
Ocean Wind 14/1
Darling Daughter 16/1
The Glancing Queen 16/1
Adrimel 28/1
Five Bar Brian 28/1
Ask A Honey Bee 33/1
Julies Stowaway 33/1
Bar 40/1
* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 20:49 GMT on Monday, 10th March 2020)
Horse Racing Betting at Bet365
Table of Contents
Appreciate It
The clear front runner for the Champion Bumper is Willie Mullins’ Appreciate It. He made such an impression on his second start to claim a six-length win at Leopardstown in December.
Coming back out for more in early January he was even sharper, claiming another win back at a shorter 2m distance. Given the performances that he has produced so far, he is expected to dominate the bumper.
Envoi Allen won this race last year, look what it’s done for his reputation. Appreciate It can follow suit as the 15/8 favourite* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 20:49 GMT on Monday, 10th March 2020)
Queen’s Brook
Gordon Elliott’s Queen’s Brook has had just the one bumper start so far. That was in mid-February when she had a strong run out at Gowran Park in landing the victory. That was in some fairly testing conditions as well, but she stood up well and looked to be travelling extremely well.
Jamie Codd is in the saddle and the Elliot/Codd partnership earned success 12 months ago in the bumper with Envoi Allen. Queen’s Brook is at 8/1 and easy a place contender if not more* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 20:49 GMT on Monday, 10th March 2020).
Key Facts – Champion Bumper Betting Tip
- Only one favourite has won in the last 13 years
- Amateur Jockeys have won 7 of the last 12 Champion Bumper races
- All 14 previous winners had won on their previous start
- Willie Mullins has nine Champion Bumper winners
- All 14 previous winners except 2 had been 5 or 6 year olds
Panic Attack
David Pipe’s Panic Attack put on an impressive 10l victory in a mares’ Listed bumper in January. That was under Willie Mullins, but she has since switched stables. The 4 year old has to be respected for this contest given how dominant she was in that bumper win at Market Rasen.
Granted this is going to be a stiffer challenge but the four year old looks as if she can mix it up at 10/1 odds* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 20:49 GMT on Monday, 10th March 2020), even if a horse that age hasn’t won since Cue Card in 2020.
Israel Champ
Also for David Pipe is Israel Champ. He had a thoroughly disappointing bumper debut in October last year, claiming only sixth at Worcester. After letting down support and connections there he has come to life since then.
Israel Champ claimed a success at Cheltenham in an extended 2 mile trip in November and then won again at Ascot a month later. The course and distance win certainly gives him fantastic claims at 11/1* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 20:49 GMT on Monday, 10th March 2020).
Ocean Wind
Ocean Wind, a four-year-old, has won two of his three bumper entries. The most recent of those was at Newbury just back in February. Some good ground clearly helped him along in that one. He was out at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day in an effort where he was second.
Even though he stormed to an 8l win at Newbury, this is going to be far stiffer company but is worth considerations for a place at 14/1* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 20:49 GMT on Monday, 10th March 2020)
Glancing Queen
Glancing Queen, trained by Alan King hit top form at Aintree in his last run. That was last April however, and the six year old has not been seen then. So she will make for an interesting entry into this one.
Her debut was at course and distance back in November 2018 and she won that, but has been lightly handled since then, but for all the world looked like a smart horse. She is a 16/1 opion* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 20:49 GMT on Monday, 10th March 2020).
Worthy mention
Julie’s Stowaway has some decent place claims for this contest from a big 33/1 price* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 20:49 GMT on Monday, 10th March 2020). She is a bold runner and she just looked powerful in leading from the front in securing a win at Navan in mid-February. She has the pace to upset a few contenders.
Adrimel is unbeaten in two bumpers. He claimed a competitive win at Doncaster last month and was travelling really well in the contest to get the better of The Edgar Wallace. His bumper debut was at Uttoxeter in December. By far his toughest test yet, but he looked promising.
Ask A Honey Bee will be putting his unbeaten record on the line. He has handled himself so well in the NH Flat challenges he has taken on, the most recent of which was a 2m effort at Wetherby. He seems to be in good spirits and is worth consideration.
Darling Daughter is another that has been shaping up well. She is one of two mares for Gordon Elliot in the fixture and has won her two bumpers so far, one a Limerick and the other at Leopardstown in February, which was at Grade 2. Takes on the boys for the first time.
Predictions & Tips
There are a lot of claims in this one, but we have to start right at the top with Appreciate It who has just been improving so well. He looks to have the tools to get the job done on the day. The Mullins factor will play a big hand in that.
Queens Brook, who won by 26l last time out has to have enough to get in the frame for Gordon Elliot.
We like the big e/w value that Julie’s Stowaway brings to the table in the Champion Bumper betting. She just looks fearless and ready to set the pace from the front that could throw plenty off of their game.
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