Champion Bumper
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Champion Bumper is a Grade 1 National Hunt flat race in the United Kingdom for four to six-year-old horses. It is run over a distance of 2 miles 110 yards (3,319 m) on the Old Course at Cheltenham Racecourse during the Cheltenham Festival in March.
It was first run in 1992, and is the most prestigious flat race in National Hunt racing, often a good source of future top class hurdlers and chasers. Possibly the best horse to win is Florida Pearl, who went on to win a host of Grade 1 steeplechases in Britain and Ireland.
Unlike most bumpers, professional jockeys are allowed to ride. Jockeys from flat racing sometimes take part, such as Jamie Spencer, who rode the winner in 2002.
[edit] Winners
- Amateur jockeys indicated by "Mr".
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
| 1992 | Montelado | 5 | Richard Dunwoody | Pat Flynn |
| 1993 | Rhythm Section | 4 | Paul Carberry | Homer Scott |
| 1994 | Mucklemeg | 6 | Charlie Swan | Edward O'Grady |
| 1995 | Dato Star | 4 | Mark Dwyer | Malcolm Jefferson |
| 1996 | Wither or Which | 5 | Mr Willie Mullins | Willie Mullins |
| 1997 | Florida Pearl | 5 | Richard Dunwoody | Willie Mullins |
| 1998 | Alexander Banquet | 5 | Mr Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins |
| 1999 | Monsignor | 5 | Brendan Powell | Mark Pitman |
| 2000 | Joe Cullen | 5 | Charlie Swan | Willie Mullins |
| no race 2001 * | ||||
| 2002 | Pizarro | 5 | Jamie Spencer | Edward O'Grady |
| 2003 | Liberman | 5 | Tony McCoy | Martin Pipe |
| 2004 | Total Enjoyment | 5 | Jim Culloty | Tommy Cooper |
| 2005 | Missed That | 6 | Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins |
| 2006 | Hairy Molly | 6 | Paul Carberry | Joseph Crowley |
| 2007 | Cork All Star | 5 | Barry Geraghty | Jessica Harrington |
| 2008 | Cousin Vinny | 5 | Mr Patrick Mullins | Willie Mullins |
* The 2001 race was cancelled because of the 2001 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth crisis.
