WEATHERBY'S CHAMPION BUMPER HISTORY FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS

The Champion Bumper is a Grade 1 National Hunt flat race for four to six-year-old horses. It is run over a distance of 2m ½f on the Old Course during the Cheltenham Festival in March. It was first run in 1992, and is the most prestigious National Hunt flat race, often a good source of future top-class hurdlers and chasers. Unlike most "bumpers", professional jockeys are allowed to ride. In fact, Cheltenham statistics reveal that 9 of the last 10 winners have been professionally-ridden. Irish-trained horses have held sway in the last ten years, capturing the race 7 times.


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2008 COUSIN VINNY (Jockey: Mr. Patrick Mullins, Trainer: Willie Mullins)

A strong renewal with 12 of the 23 runners unbeaten in bumpers. Irish-trained runners took six of the first seven places. Willie Mullins had an exceptionally strong hand with four runners, three of them unbeaten. His Cousin Vinny, 12/1 in the Cheltenham betting, was never worse than seventh and won decisively. His trainer's Cheltenham statistics are impressive, this being his sixth win in the race. Runner-up Corskeagh Royale was still near the back of the field at the top of the hill, but he made smooth headway running downhill and looked a big danger up the stands' side coming up the straight. 3/1 Cheltenham betting favourite Zaarito arrived with the strongest form, as well as the most experience among the leading contenders. However, he was beaten fair and square.

2007 CORK ALL STAR (Jockey: Barry Geraghty, Trainer: Jessica Harrington)

A field worthy of race title with more than half holding unbeaten records. Cork All Star stretched his run to four as the ground came in his favour. Flat-bred Sophocles looked progressive and nearly added what would have been only the third success for a four-year-old. Third-placed Aranleigh found the ground too fast. Cheltenham statistics show that fifth-placed Fiveforthree was successful in the Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle at the 2008 Cheltenham Festival.

2006 HAIRY MOLLY (Jockey: Paul Carberry, Trainer: Joseph Crowley)

Paul Carberry replaced amateur Gary Power on Hairy Molly, who had done little wrong in winning two of his four races, so looked overpriced at 33/1 in the Cheltenham betting. Pressgang gave trainer Paul Webber another heartbreak second in the race after De Soto in 2005. Kicks For Free went down fighting but was held in the ½ furlong.

2005 MISSED THAT (Jockey: Ruby Walsh, Trainer: Willie Mullins)

7/2 Cheltenham betting favourite, Missed That, was a horse his trainer had compared very favourably in the Cheltenham Festival build-up to his four previous winners, a band that included Florida Pearl. Missed That lived up to the hype, with an impressive win. De Soto ran a tremendous race for a four-year-old, making just his second racecourse appearance. Rasharrow had created an good impression on his Wetherby introduction and advanced on that first run, boxing on admirably for third.

2004 TOTAL ENJOYMENT (Jockey: Jim Culloty, Trainer: Tommy Cooper)

Total Enjoyment was impressive, going clear ½ a mile from home and showing a good turn of speed. Refinement, went well through the race, living up to her reputation as Britain's leading hope. She was the only danger in the latter stages and pulled nicely clear of the rest. Master Albert, 50/1 in the Cheltenham betting, stayed on best of the rest, on ground quicker than previously encountered.

2003 LIBERMAN (Jockey: Tony McCoy, Trainer: Martin Pipe)

A win for 2/1 Cheltenham betting favourite Liberman, with no Irish-trained runner in the first six. Runner-up Trabolgan, lacked the experience of the winner and ran a storming race. Widemouth Bay deserved plenty of credit as the race was not run to suit him, but he ran on strongly for third.

2002 PIZARRO (Jockey: Jamie Spencer, Trainer: Edward O'Grady)

A rare "bumper" ride for subsequent Champion Flat jockey, Jamie Spencer, Pizzaro won all out, just holding 5/2 Cheltenham betting favourite, Rhinestone Cowboy, in the style of a progressive horse. The winner's stablemate Back In Front lost his unbeaten record but little else in finishing a fine third. From a Cheltenham statistics perspective, the runner-up went on to win 10 hurdle races, finishing 3rd in the Coral Cup at the 2004 Cheltenham Festival.

2001 Cheltenham Festival abandoned – foot and mouth epidemic

2000 JOE CULLEN (Jockey: Charlie Swan, Trainer: Willie Mullins)

A strong contest resulting in an emphatic win for Joe Cullen, who could probably have won by double the 3½l margin if produced earlier. He was given a patient ride by Charlie Swan, who settled him well off the pace. Making smooth headway, he cruised up behind the leaders going to the home turn, quickening impressively. Runner-up Inca, the 2/1 Cheltenham betting favourite, also came from off the pace. Tuesday raced up with the pace and kept on to take fourth, although he just lost third spot to his stable companion Be My Royal. The winning trainer improved his Cheltenham statistics, sending out three of the first four.

1999 MONSIGNOR (Jockey: Brendan Powell, Trainer: Mark Pitman)

A surprise winner for Mark Pitman and now trainer Brendan Powell, at 50/1 in the Cheltenham betting, reversing form with 1½ runner-up, Martin Pipe-trained Golden Alpha. Pitman also sent out the third home, 25/1 chance Canasta. A worthwhile pointer from Cheltenham statistics is that Monsignor returned to the 2000 Cheltenham Festival, capturing (what is now) the Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle.