Plenty of water has passed under the bridge since my last update (still available to read here) with a brace of Grade 2s having taken place at the Dublin Racing Festival. In addition to this, Willie Mullins has introduced a clutch of exciting prospects in recent weeks (better late than never) and the entries for the Champion Bumper closed at lunchtime today, Tuesday 25^th February.

Looking at the Leopardstown races to begin with; the geldings’ contest which took place on the first day was won by Colcannon, who isn’t eligible for the Cheltenham Grade 1 and will likely return to Punchestown, having finished runner-up at that fixture in 2024. He paid a handsome compliment to leading Dawn Run contender Sixandahalf – who beat him by 11 lengths at Punchestown last spring – and the five who finished directly behind him have all been handed an entry. However, whilst that race has previously thrown up three Champion Bumper winners – with Envoi Allen, Facile Vega and A Dream To Share all completing the double – I do just wonder if this year’s renewal was as strong as in previous years.

Given that I had highlighted Future Prospect and Amen Kate in part two of this series, the mares’ bumper on day two of the DRF has to be taken seriously as a piece of form, with that pair left a long way behind and failing to even hit the frame. The race was won by Bambino Fever, who pulled 7½ lengths clear and given how she finished, the track at Cheltenham could really play to her strengths. A wide-margin winner of a maiden Point (left clear two out), she had earlier impressed when successful at Punchestown and she brings across the Irish Sea both experience as well as that strong form. The daughter of Jukebox Jury isn’t one to underestimate and if we did see the Champion Bumper winner at Leopardstown in early-February, it could well be this five-year-old.

Bambino Fever was one of eight horses entered by the aforementioned Willie Mullins, who has, of course, won the race 13 times and this includes five of the past seven renewals. Often very well-represented, his octet of options for this year’s renewal include Aqua Force, who has yet to run for the stable, having won by 28 lengths at Gowran Park and having since been bought privately by JP McManus. A six-year-old by Workforce, she kept on well on soft ground, looking like a thorough stayer. Testing ground might, therefore, advance her claims, although a lack of overall experience would be a concern.

Similar comments apply to Copacabana, who justified favouritism when winning at Navan in early-February. The son of Blue Bresil beat Burrows Drive by 5 lengths, with the second having finished third behind Sixandahalf and Colcannon in that aforementioned four-year-old bumper at last year’s Punchestown Festival. There was plenty to like about the performance but he is another who lacks experience and either would have to become the first horse since Cue Card in 2010 to win the race on the back of just one run (and no added Point-to-Point form).

Having spent a short spell at the head of the ante-post market for the Champion Bumper, Copacabana was quickly usurped for that position by stable-mate Gameofinches (pictured), who won only last week at Punchestown. This six-year-old does, in contrast, boast Point-to-Point experience and the form is above-average, with Clondaw General (rated 125), Aboutdamntime (rated 120), Jeannot Lapin (caused a big shock at Leopardstown over Christmas when winning at 150-1 before running in the Irish Arkle) and Dancingontheceiling (rated 121) filling the first four places in a race in which he fell (was beaten at the time) two out on debut. He returned from a summer break to win easily at Dromahane and the placed horses won subsequently. By Blue Bresil, he is a half-brother to Nicky Richards’ improving novice chaser The Kalooki Kid and readily brushed aside Begorra Man at Punchestown, with the runner-up having finished fifth behind Supreme Novices’ Hurdle favourite Kopek des Bordes in a Leopardstown maiden hurdle the time before. Therefore, there looks to be a bit of depth to his form to go with that experience and he has to enter calculations in a big way. It will certainly be interesting to see who Patrick Mullins – and then Paul Townend – selects to ride, with Bambino Fever unlikely to be an option for the former, due to the weight which she will carry (the sex-allowance being 7lbs).

48 hours after Gameofinches won, Kaiser Ball created a good impression when winning at Fairyhouse, under Thomas Costello. The French-bred five-year-old – who is a full-brother to Evan Williams’ promising novice hurdler Juby Ball – travelled noticeably well en route to winning comfortably, beating Eachtotheirown by 7½ lengths, with the runner-up having earlier finished a narrow second at Navan on debut. The problem here is (again) that he has had just the one race and a lack of general experience has to be a worry. He did look hugely promising, however, and wherever he goes, will likely be partnered by the amateur who will no doubt be looking forward to riding last year’s Supreme fourth, Asian Master, in the Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase. Digressing slightly and the eight-year-old will be eligible for that race despite having run just twice over fences this season, due to him contesting a novice hunters’ chase at Tipperary in May 2023 (should you be wondering after the unveiling of the handicap weights (also today)).

Back to matters in hand and interestingly, Gameofinches is owned by Professor Caroline Tisdall, who is also part-owner of Windbeneathmywings, who is the pick of the British-trained (said quietly, given that he raced three times in Ireland before moving to David Pipe) contenders. He was covered in part two of this series (which can be read here) as were No Drama This End and Keops des Bordes, who have both been entered for the race. Read about their clash at Warwick by clicking the link above and about the prospects of the exciting Windbeneathmywings.

Keops des Bordes’ stable-mate Dalston Lad also featured, whilst since then, Idaho Sun and Mossy Fen Road have made an impact on this side of the Irish Sea. The former had won at Newton Abbot in the autumn, in a race which has since worked out well, and confirmed the form with the runner-up (who finished third) in the valuable bumper at Windsor during the Berkshire Winter Million weekend. The runner-up from that race was then beaten further at Exeter but, coincidentally, by another who had run behind Idaho Sun at Newton Abbot. He doesn’t look short of pace, so I just wonder if Harry Fry might wait for Aintree – another race which is, of course, sponsored by Weatherbys – with his promising five-year-old.

The Harry Derham-trained Mossy Fen Road had impressed when winning his maiden Point last March (featured in the Point-to-Point Graduates section of Jumpers To Follow) and he had been expected to go hurdling. Set to make his debut at Hereford in late-November, he was declared a non-runner on vet’s advice and side-lined for a short period thereafter, instead made his Rules debut in a bumper at Wetherby, where he was ridden with plenty of patience by Jonathan Burke. The son of Flemensfirth made eye-catching headway around the home bend and breezed clear without coming off the bridle. Visually, it was hugely impressive and he is a horse who I am particularly looking forward to seeing again this spring.

A couple more English-trained entrants to note look to be El Cairos and Kaylan, both of whom have been off the track for some time. The former won at Newbury back in early-November and the fifth advertised the form when winning at Exeter recently. He took a keen hold under David Maxwell but powered clear in the closing stages to win by 6½ lengths.

Kaylan was out even earlier, successful at Warwick on 3^rd October. Fergal O’Brien’s Protectionist gelding boasts a Flat (German) pedigree and appeared to relish the good ground which is likely the reason for his lengthy subsequent absence. He did actually hold an entry at Newbury in February (in a Listed race which was won by the Philip Hobbs & Johnson White-trained Sober Glory, who hasn’t been given an entry at Cheltenham) but wasn’t declared, presumably due to the deteriorating conditions. Although the runner-up won next time, that Warwick form isn’t particularly strong but he showed a fine turn of foot and with that in mind, unless we get decent ground at the Festival, I suspect that he might be another for the Aintree Grade 2.

Gordon Elliott won the race in both 2017 and 2019, as well as readying Sir Gerhard ahead of his win in 2021. He was moved to Willie Mullins yard in the build-up to the Festival upon the news of Elliott’s suspension, so he clearly knows how to ready one for the race. He has five entries this year – all five being owned by Gigginstown House Stud – and Kalypso’chance is yet another who featured in part two. Not seen since mid-December, he remains of interest, whilst Jalon d’Oudairies is arguably the pick of his other four possible runners.

Third in this race last year, he hasn’t seen the racecourse since and although he presumably met with some sort of setback during the first half of the season (can’t imagine he would have intentionally been saved for a second crack at this race) that probably is the strongest, single piece of form on offer. Although the winner Jasmin de Vaux hasn’t quite lived up to expectations over hurdles, he is on course to have a crack at the Albert Bartlett, whilst runner-up Romeo Coolio is prominent in the market for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. Grade 1 winner and Festival-bound The Yellow Clay finished in sixth, whilst Grade 2-winning novice hurdlers Bill Joyce (15^th) and Sixmilebridge (17^th) were a long way behind. The son of No Risk At All looked to be a staying type last year, so would likely need soft ground as he bids to go two places better.

With just two weeks to go until the Cheltenham Festival, my next column relating to the Weatherbys Champion Bumper will likely be the piece which I pen for the race card itself.

Enjoy the Festival and best of luck,

Paul.

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