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| Big Willie Style - I'm hoping Mullins can win the Bumper again with Clondaw Court |
One stat that can always guide you though is that Willie Mullins usually has a very strong hand for the race – as evidenced by Champagne Fever’s victory in the race last year – and this year is no exception with several of the leading contenders at this stage looking likely to come from the Mullins yard.
The form of last year’s race is already working out very well this season with several of the horses from last year’s Bumper coming out and performing to a very high level this year, notably Jezki and The New One; so it is always a race to take note of for the following season’s novice hurdlers.
This year’s renewal also looks to feature a crop of horses that could potentially go on to achieve great things, but at this stage, knowing so little about many of them, it’s hard to know which will make it and which will sink without a trace.
It makes sense though to start assessing this year’s instalment of the Champion Bumper with the horse currently occupying the position of favourite for the race and that’s Golantilla.
With only one rules run under his belt, as do most of these, albeit a hugely impressive thirteen length romp at Cork in the mud he looks ample short enough at this point at a best price of 8/1.
That said, he also hacked up on his point-to-point debut and impressed so much at Cork that he was quickly snapped up by Barry Connell for well over ¼ of a million Euros and will race for Tony Martin at the festival after winning at Cork for breeder Sean O’Brien.
If there was a massive plunge on him closer to the race it would definitely pay to take note but in a race that can often throw up a massive-priced winner I’m going to look elsewhere.
Next in the betting is Empiracle a horse that won his only start to date back in October. It too was an impressive victory and he created quite the impression and too was subsequently sold, however he will remain in the care of Jeremy Scott.
The first horse I really like for the Bumper this year though is Clondaw Court. Trained by the aforementioned Willie Mullins, this horse instantly ticks one pretty major box for the Bumper.
And although, as is becoming a common theme for most of the leading horses at the time of writing, he’s only got one race course start to his name it was another eye-catching performance which saw him cruise home by all of 27l at Punchestown back in November.
With so few horses likely to run in the Bumper having had more than one run under rules to their name thus far, picking a likely winner out at this early stage can be nothing more than a matter of opinion with so few form lines to draw on.
Given that school of thought anything else you can draw on to form your opinion can be useful in making an assessment, so the fact that Willie Mullins snapped this horse up for one of his main clients – the same owners as last year’s winner Champagne Fever – looks telling.
Clondaw Court has also hacked up in point-to-points – you can see him here destroying his opposition in facile fashion.
I always look for a Mullins horse in the Bumper and although he could aim several darts at the race this year this one looks very special and could have a huge career ahead of him and I’m surprised, given his trainer, not to see him shorter in the betting at present, so appeals especially at an each-way price.
Le Vent D’Antan an impressive winner at the weekend for Liz Doyle also bolsters the Irish challenge in this year’s race, especially when you consider Doyle was responsible for bringing on 2011 Bumper winner Cheltenian and the mighty Al Ferof.
Great grandson to the mighty Pebbles Le Vent D’Antan is sure to have fans for the Bumper and according to his handler will now head straight for the festival following a race course gallop. There’s a highly plausible chance though that he will be running at Cheltenham under new ownership and depending on who comes in for him that could see his price plummet further.
Union Dues is another Mullins inmate that unlike the others highlighted thus far has a couple of runs to his name albeit one of them having come back in July.
It was upon this horse in December that Willie’s son Patrick equalled the amateur race rider’s record for wins in a calendar year before then surpassing it later that month. Both Union Dues’ wins have come on different ground so that should hold no issue for him come Cheltenham. He also showed an impressive turn of foot last time out and looks the type to not be inconvenienced by Cheltenham’s quirks.
His presence is the reason that my enthusiasm for Clondaw Court is tempered somewhat at this stage.
Mullins also potentially has City Slicker as a Bumper contender and although that horse has more experience on the track than some of these the fact he’s been beaten twice would have to be a reason, in a race so short of them really, to dismiss him even if he is owned by JP McManus.
I was quite taken with Pure Science at Warwick and as it stands would be the other horse I’d like to keep onside for the Bumper.
The local horse comes from a yard that know how to bring on a good horse and saw their The New One perform well in bumpers last term. He’d be my speculative back-up to Clondaw Court based on what I’ve seen thus far of these at the prices.
Captain Cutter also deserves a mention as he represents a union of two powerhouses from the different disciplines – owned by John Magnier and trained by champion trainer elect Nicky Henderson this horse won well at Ascot on his debut and could be another to watch out for having beaten odds-on shot, the well thought of Kings Palace in that race.
It’s nigh on impossible to say with any degree of confidence what will win the Champion Bumper but with many of these having come to the fore in the betting based on winning their first bumper race, Clondaw Court has always been at the head of the betting for the race and it looks to have always been his target.
Some of these may not even contest the race come March but I’d be surprised not to see this horse there and galloping on up the hill come the business end of affairs, however if he were to miss the race Pure Science looks to be a solid back-up based on his Warwick stroll.
Champion Bumper Selected Best Odds:
Golantilla 8/1
Empiracle 10/1
Clondaw Court 12/1
Le Vent D’Antan 12/1
Union Dues 12/1
City Slicker 14/1
Moyle Park 14/1
Pure Science 16/1
Regal Encore 16/1
Captain Cutter 20/1
Kings Palace 20/1
Lurcher 20/1
Oscar Hoof 20/1
Sgt Reckless 20/1
Benemeade 25/1
Blackmail 25/1
Champagne James 25/1
Doctor Harper 25/1
Faugheen 25/1
Gallant Tipp 25/1
Sizing Tennessee 25/1
Recommendation:
Back Clondaw Court each-way @ 12/1 (Ladbrokes)
Back Pure Science each-way @ 16/1 (Bet365)
Current Cheltenham Portfolio:
Supreme Novices’ – Dodging Bullets @ 14/1
Arkle – Overturn @ 7/1
Champion Hurdle – Grandouet @ 7/1 [NRFB]
Mares Hurdle – Quevega @ 8/11
Neptune – Puffin Billy @ 9/1
RSA – Boston Bob @ 7/1
Queen Mother – Sprinter Sacre @ 1/2
Bumper – Clondaw Court @ 12/1 (e/w) & Pure Science @ 16/1 (e/w)
Gold Cup – Imperial Commander @ 50/1 (e/w) [NRFB]
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