Mullins actually rode (as well as trained) Wither Or Which to win in 1996 and has won five of the past seven renewals, with Jasmin de Vaux handing the all-conquering trainer a 100^th Cheltenham Festival success, when victorious in March.

As with previous years, the purpose of this series is to highlight potential candidates for the race. As we are in early-December, there is a lot still to happen between now and mid-March and later this month, Ascot stages what is often the strongest bumper – this side of the Irish Sea – during the first half of the season.

The one Listed race that we have had thus far (for geldings)took place at Cheltenham’s November meeting, where Fortune de Mer comprehensively turned around the form with the runner-up from the October meeting, winning in effortless fashion under a motionless Harry Skelton. Unsuccessful in a couple of Irish Points (actually finished runner-up to Keops des Bordes, who is now a stable-mate of his in Dan Skelton’s yard), the son of Doyen travelled well in the October race but had clearly improved to beat Block Rockin Beats in convincing fashion. He sets the standard in Britain thus far and it wouldn’t be a shock if he were to be kept fresh for the spring.

Readers of Jumpers To Follow will know that I was taken with the performance of Alan King’s Blues Singer when successful at Kempton in March and although that form hasn’t worked out, the four-year-old again moved with menace and showed improved form when beaten at Ascot recently, under a penalty. The son of Blue Bresil travelled best and looked to have secured a second victory when hitting the front, only to be collared late on by Anthony Honeyball’s Kdeux Saint Fray, who prevailed by a nose.

Blues Singer is reportedly being aimed at the aforementioned Listed race at Ascot (20^th December) and it could be that his conqueror re-opposes on revised terms. His trainer has enjoyed a decent start to the campaign and saddled a nice filly to win a bumper on racecourse debut at Aintree in late-October, Kapability. I was on course that day and the daughter of Authorized really took the eye in the prelims and was able fend off the fast-finishing Siog Geal, who went on to finish runner-up in the mares’ Listed contest at Cheltenham last month, whilst the fourth home Queenofthejukebox ran out a taking winner at Wetherby recently, so the form looks above-average.

Quite whether she develops into a Champion Bumper contender is another matter, but she looks more than capable of winning again and certainly wouldn’t be out of place in Listed company judged on this initial impression.

Talking of mares who could be capable of making an impact at Listed level, Alan King’s Charisma Cat picked up stylishly to lead home a stable one-two at Warwick recently, where she conceded weight to all. Again, this looked to be a good bunch in the paddock beforehand and it was hard not to be impressed with how she disposed of stable-mate Annie Hathaway, doing her best work late on and looking very strong as she crossed the line. Expect to see her upped in class in the New Year.

As is often the case at this time of year, Willie Mullins has yet to really get going and it has been Gordon Elliott who has introduced the pick of the Irish bumper horses thus far. Kalypso’chance was the first to put down a marker when winning by 15 lengths at Punchestown. A four-year-old chestnut by Masked Marvel – sire of the same stable’s Stayers’ Hurdle winner Teahupoo – he cost just £85,000 on the back of winning an English Point and travelled really well into the home straight on Rules debut. Asked to go away with a furlong-and-a-half to run, he pulled further and further clear, creating a good impression under Harry Swan. Described as a ‘next-year horse’ by his trainer, perhaps he won’t be asked too many questions in bumpers, but despite those comments, he does head the betting for the Cheltenham contest at this very early stage.

Elliott won both bumpers at this weekend’s Hatton’s Grace fixture at Fairyhouse. He saddled a brace of four-year-olds in Saturday’s race, with Ma Jacks Hill – who was sent off at odds-on – finishing in third place behind stable-companion William Butler, who defied odds of 25-1 to come from off the pace to score in quite taking fashion in the end. Dropped right out, he still had five horses in front of him inside the final quarter-mile, but the penny soon dropped and despite showing distinct signs of greenness, the son of Yeats ran on strongly. It will be interesting to see if he can back this initial impression up in a winners’ race next time. The third– a strapping son of Famous Name, who cost €310,000 – looks to be more of a staying type and will appreciate a stiffer test of stamina and possibly softer ground.  

A non-runner in Saturday’s race due to the ground (also anon-runner at Down Royal due to a stone bruise), Koktail Brut ran out a convincing winner of Sunday’s four-year-olds bumper, in the silks of Gigginstown House Stud. Quite keen, the Cokoriko gelding was allowed to stride on under Harry Swan in the early part of the race, before being passed by the free-going Dollymount (eventually finished tailed-off). Having reeled in the leader off the home bend, he had everything in trouble with a couple of furlongs to run and drew clear in the manner of a highly-promising individual. He, too, cost plenty (€250,000) and would appear to possess more pace than his half-brother, 2023 Munster National winner Gevrey.

This was probably the most striking performance from a bumper horse in Ireland so far this season and his trainer suggested that he will be tackling a Graded race before long. Interestingly, the same connections also had a non-runner in this contest – as they did 24 horse earlier – in the shape of the well-touted He Can’t Dance. A heavy-ground four-year-old maiden winner for Rob James in March, he beat Meetmebythesea (winner over hurdles only last week for Ben Pauling and JPMcManus) at Monksgrange before changing hands for £300,000 at Aintree the following month. A grey by Jukebox Jury, he should be out fairly soon and had been attracting support in the ante-post market for the Champion Bumper ahead of his anticipated Rules debut.

The next update will be posted after Christmas, so best wishes to you all.

Paul Ferguson.

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