The Champion Bumper is a race that often provides a glimpse into the future stars of National Hunt racing.
Run over roughly two miles at the Cheltenham Festival, it is the only Grade 1 contest exclusively for inexperienced horses yet to jump an obstacle.
Despite their lack of racecourse milage, the winners and runners in the Champion Bumper often go on to achieve great things over obstacles, making it a key race for spotting emerging talent.
With the 2025 renewal rapidly approaching as the closing race on day two of the Cheltenham Festival, attention is turning to the Champion Bumper odds.
Which inexperienced have already caught the eye this season? Who has the potential to follow in the footsteps of past winners like Envoi Allen and Cue Card?
Read on as we assess the standout candidates for this year’s Champion Bumper.
Copacabana – 4/1
Seen on the racecourse just once thus far, Copacabana was unleashed by Willie Mullins at Navan in February and made an instant impression on his rules debut.
Fancied as the 9/4 favourite for his first start, the five-year-old was ridden clear in the final furlong to win by five lengths from Burrows Drive under Patrick Mullins.
The £52,000 recruit shot to instant favouritism for the Champion Bumper, with odds of 4/1 in the horse betting markets.
Kalypso’chance – 6/1
A more experienced option, Kalypso’chance won a point-to-point (amateur race at the grassroots level of National Hunt racing) by 13 lengths at Corbridge last April.
He switched hands to Gordon Elliott for £85,000 just days later and made an instant impression under rules when winning a Bumper at Punchestown by 15 lengths.
The five-year-old followed up with a Listed win at Navan last time out in December and certainly looks like an appealing option for the Champion Bumper at 6/1.
Windbeneathmywings — 6/1
The British haven’t won the Champion Bumper since Ballyandy scored for Nigel Twiston-Davies in 2016, but the hosts have a fantastic chance to end the Irish dominance in the race with Windbeneathmywings.
The five-year-old started his racing career with trainer/owner Patrick Flynn in County Waterford last season, winning on two of his three bumper starts, but switched hands to the Devon-based David Pipe in November.
He made an unbelievable debut for his new yard at Ascot in December, winning the Listed contest in Berkshire by an impressive 14 lengths from Moneygarrow.
Bambino Fever – 6/1
Another big chance for Mullins, who has won the Champion Bumper a record 13 times, Bambino Fever is 2-2 in National Hunt Flat races this season.
A point-to-point winner by a whopping 40 lengths at Stowlin last May, the five-year-old won by five lengths on her bumper debut at Punchestown in December.
She improved further when last seen at Leopardstown at the start of February, landing a Grade 2 Mares race by over seven lengths.
Speaking about the mare, Mullins said: “She was excellent at Leopardstown and my choice would be to go straight to the Champion Bumper. Mares have a good record in it and she has a lovely pedigree.”
