2024 Champion Bumper Tips - Two bets in day two's card closer

Jon Vine

Editor

Last updated: Mon 04 Mar 2024 13:26

Jon Vine 04 Mar 2024

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Free guide to the 2024 Champion Bumper
This Grade One takes place on day two of the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday 13th March
You Oughta Know and Brechin Castle feature in our verdict

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The Champion Bumper during day two of the Cheltenham Festival. (Getty)

Day two at Cheltenham closes with the only flat race of the meeting, the Champion Bumper. The likes of Envoi Allen and Sir Gerhard have won this bumper before landing Grade One honours over obstacles at Cheltenham, so it's a race that always throws up a superstar or two.

Here's our free guide to the 2024 Champion Bumper. You'll find our best betting tips in the verdict section below.

2024 Champion Bumper Tips

Jalon D'oudairies is edging favouritism for this year's Champion Bumper. Gordon Elliott's star won a point-to-point by five lengths back in March, before running out a clear winner on his bumper debut at Fairyhouse. Jalon D'oudairies then saw off the returning Redemption Day to claim victory at Leopardstown over Christmas and Elliott has had his five-year-old laid out for Cheltenham ever since.

Since the turn of the millennium, only Briar Hill, Cue Card and Cousin Vinny have won the Champion Bumper on their second start under rules. All of the other winners had at least two bumper outings under their belt. A good percentage were having their fourth start at Cheltenham, so experience counts for plenty in this competitive contest.

Jasim De Vaux was mightly impressive when winning a Naas on his sole start for Willie Mullins. The highly-touted Romeo Coolio got the job done on his only run this season, which came at a time in the season when all of Gordon Elliott's horses were underperforming. Paul Nicholls' Teeshan also looked good on his sole start at Exeter. All three are excellent prospects, but inexperience could be their downfall.

You Oughta Know saw off Croke Park on debut at Kilbeggan back in May, before following up at the Galway Festival. On his return to action at the Dublin Racing Festival, Jodie Townend's mount picked up well from the rear to finish second behind the impressive Jereboam Machin. If Patrick Mullins rides this hardy six-year-old, his price is sure to evaporate.

Willie Mullins could also be represented by Cantico and Argento Boy, who both run in the Galopin Des Champs colours. Argento Boy looked good on the only start of his career so far at Fairyhouse, whereas Cantico bounced back to winning ways at Navan in February, having been beaten as the favourite at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Another who has been talked about plenty on the preview circuit is The Yellow Clay. Gordon Elliott's five-year-old won two bumpers back in March and flew home from the rear to finish fourth behind Jeroboam Machin and You Oughta Know at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Along with Teeshan, Paul Nicholls could run Quebecois, who ran out an easy winner on his bumper debut at Exeter in December. Jonjo O'Neill got a second bumper run into Mister Meggit at Doncaster this month, where he carried a penalty to victory without ever being asked a serious question.

Ben Brookhouse watched Brechin Castle win a Listed bumper here at Cheltenham in November and won't have been discouraged by his defeat at Ascot before Christmas. Nicky Henderson could be represented on day two of the Cheltenham Festival by Kingston Pride, despite his defeat at Lingfield during the Winter Millions Meeting.

Verdict

2024 Champion Bumper

There are two who I'm keen to back in the bumper, starting with You Oughta Know. Willie Mullins' star has the ideal profile for Cheltenham, having gathered plenty of experience over the past 12 months. The form of You Oughta Know's first two bumper wins has worked out well and Willie's six-year-old proved he could handle softer ground with an excellent run at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Willie Mullins talked up You Oughta Know in his stable tour, claiming Patrick Mullins has a tricky decision to make as to whether he should ride this lad or Jasmin De Vaux. If Patrick picks You Oughta Know, that will be a big boost to his chances. If Patrick goes the other way, then Paul Townend will likely take the ride. Not a bad deputy, I think you'll agree.

British horses have an awful recent record in the Champion Bumper, but I could see Brechin Castle giving a good account of himself. Ben Brookhouse's youngster scooted up the hill to beat Fire Flyer and Moon Chime - both winners over hurdles since - in the Listed race here at Cheltenham in November.

Brechin Castle was giving a talented mare of Dan Skelton's, Let It Rain 11 pounds at the weights in the Listed Bumper at Ascot in December, and was only beaten by three lengths. His form looks rock solid.

You Oughta Know

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