Cheltenham Festival - Champion Bumper Preview

Wednesday’s action at the Cheltenham Festival culminates with the Champion Bumper and a sheer speed test for late developing horses that will embark in a career over hurdles next season.

A lot of top Bumper runners often possess notable flat pedigrees – a feature which certainly applies to John Ferguson’s New Year’s Eve who has been quietly touted by many as a star of the future.

His sire, Motivator, won the Derby in 2005 and that kind of bloodline has to be taken extremely seriously, especially as New Year’s Eve has won both of his starts to date in stylish fashion.

After winning readily on debut at Ludlow, New Year’s Eve quickened away superbly to follow up at Market Rasen, beating Swinging Sultan effortlessly by eight lengths.

The best seems yet to come from the four-year-old who will have to defy a recurring trend of five and six-year-old winner sin the race.

But initial evidence suggests that Ferguson’s charge has bags of ability and crucially an effective turn of foot which will take some stopping up the hill at Cheltenham.

Coupled with an 8lb weight allowance received for his age, New Year’s Eve is likely to be sent off as favourite and much shorter in price than the 9/1 currently available.

After three successive victories, Moscow Mannon is at the head of the betting and arguably represents Ireland’s best chance of a Champion Bumper triumph.

Trainer Brian Hamilton appears to be extremely confident with regards to his horse’s chance and the way he stayed on to win cosily when last seen at Gowran makes him a worthy challenger.

Champagne Fever also holds massive claims from across the Irish Sea however and trainer Willie Mullins has a fine record in this race. The five-year-old easily won a decent contest at Fairyhouse in January and like many other runners, a great deal more is expected at the Festival.

Mullins regular connection with Ruby Walsh also means that the Irish champion jockey is set to take up the ride. Colin Tizzard will not have too many strong chances at the Festival after Cue Card and his intended runner - Royal Guardsman.

The five-year-old rounds off the quartet of well backed horses in the market and he came well clear to win at Ascot in February, a contest which looked strong on appearance.

Young, talented claimer Brendan Powell rode Royal Guardsman that day and could well get the leg up again above stable jockey Joe Tizzard should father Colin feel a weight allowance beneficial.

The New One is two from two for Nigel Twiston-Davies and may be capable of outrunning his sizeable odds as he is another who will receive a handy age/weight allowance.

Phillip Hobbs’ Village Vic has shown a great amount of promise this season but would probably hold a better chance if the stable were in form.

He gave Shutthefrontdoor a good battle at Newbury last time but just flattened out, arguably due to fitness, after travelling like the winner for most of the way.

Clonbanan Lad, Il Presidente and Population are others who hold a sniff but this may be New Year’s Eve’s time if able to deliver all of the promise he has displayed and fulfil the potential anticipated through his world class pedigree.

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09/03/2012     © Frixo 2024