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| Electric Dreams - Pylonthepressure has been impressive and is a contender in the Bumper. |
Somewhat of a Willie Mullins benefit in recent years the Bumper is usually a very tricky race to get to the bottom of ante-post, but the two I like the look of will almost certainly start shorter than their current prices if they do line up and with the NRNB concession, if they don’t you lose nothing.
Unlike the other Festival Focus posts I won’t spend lines and lines of text evaluating each likely runner’s chances and why they will or won’t win as there are so many runners in the Bumper coming here with unblemished records made up of wide margin wins I’d be repeating the same things over and over again.
Instead I’m just going to focus on the two horses that have caught my eye for the race, because at the end of the day there’s not much tangible form to go on for the Bumper so visual impression and potential makes up a huge part of the selection process.
As one would expect Willie Mullins’ sextet dominate the market and current favourite Bordini has looked good in two starts under rules to date including winning a Listed event last time out. But it’s actually the horse behind him in the betting, for the same connections, that is my first shout for this year’s Bumper.
Pylonthepressure is a big Irish bred horse that beat a subsequent bumper winner in a point to point before becoming a typically impressive winner in facile conditions on his debut under rules when running out a very easy 6 ½ lengths victor at Thurles just before Christmas.
He tracked the leaders that day and made a sweeping move round the outside to take up the running a few furlongs from home with Patrick Mullins still high in the saddle.
The ground wasn’t great but he quickened away from his nearest pursuer Samson Bill with consummate ease and looked another smart prospect for messrs Mullins and Ricci in the process.
Quite surprisingly his next start actually saw him go off second favourite and incredibly for these connections, a backable, odds against price.
Gordon Elliot’s Space Cadet was sent off the odds on favourite perhaps based on his earlier bumper form behind Milsean but more likely on his previous impressive win over Christmas.
Giving weight to the Elliot runner, Pylonthepressure made all and was even more impressive than his rules debut, extending away in an eye-catching manner as Mullins Junior got to work on him.
I like that they pushed him out that day and he looked to have plenty left at the end, he definitely looks a stayer and you need a stayer for the Champion Bumper.
I’ve been more impressed with him than the other Ricci horse and you can back Pylonthepressure at a bigger price than Bordini. Annoyingly with two fancied runners there is the very real possibility Mullins and Ricci may leave one at home but with the NRNB concession at least it won’t cost anything if they did.
The vibes from the yard have sounded positive and Mullins has won the Bumper on more than one occasion with the perceived lesser fancied runner, so if they both did make the trip over and Bordini went off favourite it wouldn’t be too disconcerting as I’ve been really taken with Pylonthepressure so far and I think he looks the ideal sort for the Champion Bumper.
Slightly more speculative is an investment on General Principle now Gigginstown look set to lift their Champion Bumper boycott.
With only one rules start to his name it’s hard to know just how good he is really, but the Gordon Elliot horse could not have been more scintillating in his 22l victory and quickened away in the manner of a very good horse to win impressively at Punchestown at the start of the month.
It’s hard to know what if anything Gigginstown will send over, if anything at all, and with Willie Mullins’ Stone Hard also entered up they could just rely on the one runner, especially given this one has only had the one start and it was as recently as this month.
NRNB gives protection if he’s left at home though and given connections you can guarantee he’ll be shorter than his current price if he does line up.
Pylonthepressure looks the more solid option at this stage but the manner of General Principle’s debut really caught my eye and I can’t resist taking a small punt on him too as he looks very special.
Both may not even make the Bumper as things stand but if they do must have sound claims and I can only see both prices falling if they’re declared, one thing is for sure though, win, lose or miss Cheltenham altogether both Pylonthepressure and General Principle look to be horses with big futures ahead of them.
Recommendation(s):
Pylonthepressure 0.75pt win @ 10/1 (Bet365) [NRNB]
General Principle 0.25pt win @ 14/1 (Bet365) [NRNB]
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