Champion Bumper

Template:Short description Template:EngvarB Template:Short description Template:Jockey colours header Template:Jockey colours row |} Template:Jockey colours collapsible header Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours no footer Template:Jockey colours named collapsible header Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours no footer Template:Jockey colours named collapsible header Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours no footer Template:Jockey colours named collapsible header Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours row Template:Jockey colours footer The Champion Bumper is a Grade 1 National Hunt flat race in Great Britain which is open to racing horses aged four to six years. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and ½ furlong (2 miles and 87 yards, or 3,298 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.

The event was established in 1992, and it was initially called the Festival Bumper. In its early years it had various sponsors, including the Tote and Guinness. A more sustained period of sponsorship began when Weatherbys began supporting the race in 1997, and since then it has been known by its present title.

The Champion Bumper is the most prestigious flat race, or "bumper", in the National Hunt calendar. It often features horses which go on to become leading performers over obstacles, such as Florida Pearl and Cue Card. Occasionally leading jockeys from Flat racing ride in the race and the 2002 winner, Pizarro, was ridden by Jamie Spencer, a Flat racing jockey.

Records

Leading jockey (4 wins):

• Patrick Mullins – Cousin Vinny (2008), Champagne Fever (2012), Facile Vega (2022), Jasmin De Vaux (2024)

Leading trainer (14 wins):

• Willie Mullins – Wither or Which (1996), Florida Pearl (1997), Alexander Banquet (1998), Joe Cullen (2000), Missed That (2005), Cousin Vinny (2008), Champagne Fever (2012), Briar Hill (2013), Relegate (2018), Ferny Hollow (2020), Sir Gerhard (2021), Facile Vega (2022), Jasmin De Vaux (2024), Bambino Fever (2025)

Winners

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer
1992	Montelado	5	Richard Dunwoody	Patrick J. "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	Willie MullinsTemplate:Efn	Willie Mullins
1997	Florida Pearl	5	Richard Dunwoody	Willie Mullins
1998	Alexander Banquet	5	Ruby WalshTemplate:Efn	Willie Mullins
1999	Monsignor	5	Brendan Powell	Mark Pitman
2000	Joe Cullen	5	Charlie Swan	Willie Mullins
	no race 2001 Template:Efn
2002	Pizarro	5	Jamie Spencer	Edward O'Grady
2003	Liberman	5	Tony McCoy	Martin Pipe
2004	Total Enjoyment	5	Jim Culloty	Tom 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	Patrick MullinsTemplate:Efn	Willie Mullins
2009	Dunguib	6	Brian O'ConnellTemplate:Efn	Philip Fenton
2010	Cue Card	4	Joe Tizzard	Colin Tizzard
2011	Cheltenian	5	Richard Johnson	Philip Hobbs
2012	Champagne Fever	5	Patrick MullinsTemplate:Efn	Willie Mullins
2013	Briar Hill	5	Ruby Walsh	Willie Mullins
2014	Silver Concorde	6	Robbie McNamaraTemplate:Efn	Dermot Weld
2015	Moon Racer	6	Tom Scudamore	David Pipe
2016	Ballyandy	5	Sam Twiston-Davies	Nigel Twiston-Davies
2017	Fayonagh	6	Jamie CoddTemplate:Efn	Gordon Elliott
2018	Relegate	5	Katie WalshTemplate:Efn	Willie Mullins
2019	Envoi Allen	5	Jamie CoddTemplate:Efn	Gordon Elliott
2020	Ferny Hollow	5	Paul Townend	Willie Mullins
2021	Sir Gerhard	6	Rachael Blackmore	Willie Mullins
2022	Facile Vega	5	Patrick MullinsTemplate:Efn	Willie Mullins
2023	A Dream To Share	5	John GleesonTemplate:Efn	John Kiely
2024	Jasmin De Vaux	5	Patrick MullinsTemplate:Efn	Willie Mullins
2025	Bambino Fever	5	Jody TownendTemplate:Efn	Willie Mullins

See also

• Horse racing in Great Britain
• List of British National Hunt races
• Recurring sporting events established in 1992 – this race is included under its original title, Festival Bumper.

References

• Racing Post:
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  • Template:Racing Post, 2025

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• pedigreequery.com – Champion Bumper – Cheltenham.
• racenewsonline.co.uk – Racenews Archive (28 February 2008).