March 11 / 17.20 Cheltenham

17.20

Good To Soft

Weatherbys Champion Bumper (In Memory Of Sir Johnny Weatherby) (A Standard Open NH Flat Race) (GBB)

  • Prize money: £45560
  • 2m 0f 87y
  • Class 1
  • 22 runners
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Weatherbys Champion Bumper (In Memory Of Sir Johnny Weatherby) (A Standard Open NH Flat Race) (GBB)

Runners: 22 runners

Type: NH Flat

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

9/1

  • Place: £3.10

Form: 11 D

Last run: 82 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Not an instant success in Irish points but 2-2 in bumpers despite free-going tendencies evident in both; made all at Newbury (good to soft) and repeated the trick at Ascot (soft) where he was in splendid isolation for large parts of the race before predictably tiring late on; that form has taken a battering but he was much the best of that field; should similar tactics be employed, it may help that this race is often slowly run; highly regarded and much respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
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Verdict Starting price

12th

2

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 209y

Class 1

17:00 Aintree

Bass Hunter

11st 4lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Chris Gordon

Assembling an impressive CV in bumpers, following all-the-way wins at Newbury (good to soft) and Ascot (soft) with an excellent third at the Cheltenham Festival (good) where he stuck to his task gamely after being headed over 1f out; that's the best form on offer and he's the one to beat.

9/4

3rd

1

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 87y

Class 1

17:20 Cheltenham

Bass Hunter

11st 7lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

Not an instant success in Irish points but 2-2 in bumpers despite free-going tendencies evident in both; made all at Newbury (good to soft) and repeated the trick at Ascot (soft) where he was in splendid isolation for large parts of the race before predictably tiring late on; that form has taken a battering but he was much the best of that field; should similar tactics be employed, it may help that this race is often slowly run; highly regarded and much respected.

9/1

Form: 2-1 D

Last run: 56 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Debut defeat was for a different yard; his narrow success at Fairyhouse (yielding) wasn't pretty and the RPR nothing to boast about; probably lacks the star potential of some in here and Patrick Mullins (aboard last time) presumably agrees.
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Time + Course Horse + Weight
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Verdict Starting price

7th

9

29th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 132y

16:50 Punchestown

The Wager

12st 0lb

J: Miss J Townend

T: W P Mullins

Went close over C&D last season on his only start for Pat Doyle; battled well for a narrow success at Fairyhouse in January; emerged from the Champion Bumper with more credit than several shorter-priced stablemates; stayed on from an unpromising position to finish seventh, only a neck behind Quiryn, who was best of the Mullins squad.

6/1

7th

15

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 87y

Class 1

17:20 Cheltenham

The Wager

11st 7lb

J: Miss J Townend

T: W P Mullins

Debut defeat was for a different yard; his narrow success at Fairyhouse (yielding) wasn't pretty and the RPR nothing to boast about; probably lacks the star potential of some in here and Patrick Mullins (aboard last time) presumably agrees.

25/1

1st

8

14th Jan 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

16:00 Fairyhouse

The Wager

12st 0lb

J: Mr P W Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Brother to Gordon Elliott-trained hurdle winner Wudya, half-brother to this stable's bumper/hurdle/chase winner You Oughta Know; interesting addition to the Mullins team after a single run last season for top producer Pat Doyle; lost out by only a neck to the Elliott-trained Santo Sospir, now the winner of three of his four hurdle starts after last Thursday's 9l Clonmel win.

11/10

Form: 412 D

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
With his dam closely related to a Welsh National winner, it was no surprise to see him finishing well when narrowly failing to reel in Broadway Ted in a Grade 2 at Leopardstown; useful but Gordon Elliott has made it clear that the same owner's Keep Him Company is the yard's principal hope.
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Time + Course Horse + Weight
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Verdict Starting price

1st

10

29th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 132y

16:50 Punchestown

With Nolimit

12st 0lb

J: Mr B O’Neill

T: Gordon Elliott

Point winner last season, won five-runner Fairyhouse bumper in January; finished well when narrowly failing to reel in stablemate Broadway Ted in a Grade 2 at Leopardstown; finished in mid-division at Cheltenham.

16/1

9th

18

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 87y

Class 1

17:20 Cheltenham

With Nolimit

11st 7lb

J: Mr H C Swan

T: Gordon Elliott

With his dam closely related to a Welsh National winner, it was no surprise to see him finishing well when narrowly failing to reel in Broadway Ted in a Grade 2 at Leopardstown; useful but Gordon Elliott has made it clear that the same owner's Keep Him Company is the yard's principal hope.

25/1

2nd

7

2nd Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

16:40 Leopardstown

With Nolimit

11st 10lb

J: Mr D G Lavery

T: Gordon Elliott

Hacked up in a Liscarroll point-to-point (3m, yielding) in March and bought for 250,000GBP at the Aintree sales in April; favourite, travelled well but didn't appear to get home in testing conditions on Navan debut (fourth to Charismatic Kid); appreciated better ground when making all in five-runner Fairyhouse contest early this month; ground concerns.

14/1

Form: 426 BF

Last run: 52 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Flattered to finish a length behind the trailblazing Bass Hunter at Ascot and he was then a disappointing favourite at Windsor (again on soft); no maiden has ever won this race.
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Time + Course Horse + Weight
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Verdict Starting price

10th

11

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 87y

Class 1

17:20 Cheltenham

Tally Ho Back

11st 7lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Flattered to finish a length behind the trailblazing Bass Hunter at Ascot and he was then a disappointing favourite at Windsor (again on soft); no maiden has ever won this race.

66/1

6th

8

18th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 2

16:05 Windsor

Tally Ho Back

11st 4lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Some promise on Newton Abbot debut in October and he belied his 40-1 odds with strong-finishing second, clear of remainder, in Listed grade at Ascot (soft) last month; should be open to further improvement and likely to go well.

2/1

Form: 214 D

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Much too good for Boycetown at Punchestown (soft to heavy; first run in a tongue-tie that's been retained) and, although his bubble was burst to some extent at Leopardstown (heavy), he did get noticeably warm beforehand and probably wasn't seen to best effect held up off modest fractions; can do better, and probably a lot better.
Place /
No / Draw
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Time + Course Horse + Weight
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Verdict Starting price

15th

7

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 87y

Class 1

17:20 Cheltenham

Its Only A Game

11st 7lb

J: Mr J L Gleeson

T: Martin Brassil

Much too good for Boycetown at Punchestown (soft to heavy; first run in a tongue-tie that's been retained) and, although his bubble was burst to some extent at Leopardstown (heavy), he did get noticeably warm beforehand and probably wasn't seen to best effect held up off modest fractions; can do better, and probably a lot better.

16/1

4th

4

2nd Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

16:40 Leopardstown

Its Only A Game

11st 10lb

J: Mr J L Gleeson

T: Martin Brassil

Cost 160,000euros as a 3yo; half-brother to a winning French hurdler; dam useful 2m/2m2f hurdler/chaser; two runs have been at Punchestown, chasing home an all-the-way winner at the festival in early May and handled testing conditions well when tongue-tied in late November, patiently produced against far rail to win going away from a subsequent Down Royal winner; smart prospect who should go well.

13/8

Form: 116 CD

Last run: 115 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
His wins at Worcester and here came on good ground, so perhaps the soft surface found him out when only sixth in a Listed race back here in November; however, on all his form, this looks three bridges too far.
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Verdict Starting price

1st

3

16th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

17:50 Uttoxeter

Chicker

11st 3lb

J: Fern O’Brien

T: Fergal O’Brien

Fairly useful form when winning his first two bumpers but well held in Champion Bumper at Cheltenham and Grade 2 bumper at Aintree last two runs; has since had a wind op and remains with potential now going hurdling.

5/1

11th

3

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 209y

Class 1

17:00 Aintree

Chicker

11st 4lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Successful in his first two races (on good ground) but has come unstuck in a higher grade since, well beaten behind Bass Hunter at the Cheltenham Festival last month; difficult to recommend.

33/1

18th

5

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 87y

Class 1

17:20 Cheltenham

Chicker

11st 7lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

His wins at Worcester and here came on good ground, so perhaps the soft surface found him out when only sixth in a Listed race back here in November; however, on all his form, this looks three bridges too far.

66/1

Form: 451 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Patrick Mullins has been aboard for all his three runs but isn't here; impressed at Limerick last time (heavy) and his RPR was nothing to be sniffed at, despite Mullins keeping so wide that he ventured onto an AW strip that circled the track; sure to win more races but this is unlikely to be one of them.
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No / Draw
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Time + Course Horse + Weight
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Verdict Starting price

10th

6

29th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 132y

16:50 Punchestown

Of Land And Sea

12st 0lb

J: Mr O McGill

T: Paul Hennessy

Huge price at Cheltenham, lost all chance when the saddle slipped early; ridden by Patrick Mullins on all three Irish starts; enterprisingly-ridden very wide to win at Limerick.

50/1

21th

10

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 87y

Class 1

17:20 Cheltenham

Of Land And Sea

11st 7lb

J: Richard Condon

T: Paul Hennessy

Patrick Mullins has been aboard for all his three runs but isn't here; impressed at Limerick last time (heavy) and his RPR was nothing to be sniffed at, despite Mullins keeping so wide that he ventured onto an AW strip that circled the track; sure to win more races but this is unlikely to be one of them.

40/1

1st

2

10th Feb 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 150y

16:55 Limerick

Of Land And Sea

12st 0lb

J: Mr P W Mullins

T: Paul Hennessy

Promise on debut for Mags Mullins; didn't quite get home under positive ride when a 5l fifth of 15 on debut for this stable at Naas (2m, sft-hvy); was behind Burning Ability and Hey Now that day, work to do to turn that around.

6/1

Form: 21 D

Last run: 75 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Cost 120,000euros after finishing second in an Irish point; he took the field apart to win by clear daylight at Down Royal (yielding) but It's Only A Game comfortably had his measure the time before; this 5yo has him to worry about and others; tongue-tie added.
Place /
No / Draw
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Time + Course Horse + Weight
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Verdict Starting price
No Results Found
OUR TIP

Form: 11 D

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Both runs on heavy; debut win was at Ayr and he followed up in the Grade 2 at the Dublin Racing Festival that's often a good guide to this (three horses have achieved the double since 2019); only a short head in front of With Nolimit and a suspicion that Charismatic Kid (third) and It's Only A Game (fourth) were not seen to best effect in behind, but this is a nice prospect.
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Time + Course Horse + Weight
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No Results Found

Form: 13 D BF

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Bought for £300,000 soon after winning a Navan bumper in early December; he took a tall reputation into the Grade 2 at Leopardstown in early February won by Broadway Ted and was backed accordingly, only for his effort to peter out after briefly threatening up the straight; could be capable of better on this surface (has raced on soft or heavy) but clearly needs to be.
Place /
No / Draw
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Time + Course Horse + Weight
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Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 1 D

Last run: 57 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Held every chance when falling late on in an Irish point for which he was odds-on; later recruited for £125,000; drew clear for a 17l success at Ayr (heavy), beating a previous winner; his RPR was encouraging enough to believe he might hold his own in this stronger company; raced freely at Ayr and wandered around when clear, so a hood is now fitted.
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No / Draw
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Time + Course Horse + Weight
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Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 11 D

Last run: 72 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
It was a timely point win last March as 12 days later he fetched £220,000 at the sales here on the eve of the Gold Cup; so far so good under rules having won both his bumpers, in the latest at Leopardstown (good to yielding) looking stronger the further he went (Topspeed figure sets the standard here); powerful owners have never prioritised this race but they might be warming to it having had the third two years ago (their best finish from nine runners) and the favourite last year; interesting.
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No / Draw
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Time + Course Horse + Weight
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Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 1

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Has a strikingly similar profile to the stable's 2024 winner Jasmin De Vaux, who also won a point winner before scooting home in the same Naas bumper (2m2f, heavy) that this 5yo won by 24l (made all; 5-4 favourite); perhaps he didn't beat a lot but it looked good and top connections committed to Cheltenham straight after; trainer has won this 14 times and it sounds as though this runner is right up the pecking order in his five-strong squad; Patrick Mullins rides; "could be anything" tag definitely applies here.
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No / Draw
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Time + Course Horse + Weight
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Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 1 D

Last run: 53 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Snapped up for £200,000 soon after finishing second in an Irish point last spring (winner absent since); reappeared in January for an all-the-way 9l victory on soft to heavy at Navan where Patrick Mullins barely pressed the accelerator pedal; that effort looks all the more striking now with the runner-up winning comfortably the following month; it's all guesswork in gauging how good he might be, but Mullins prefers Love Sign d'Aunou.
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No / Draw
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Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 1 D

Last run: 75 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Beaten in his only point; Noel Meade has done well with other members of the dam's family; it was a traditionally strong bumper he won at Leopardstown over Christmas (yielding) and he was extending his superiority at the line; a formline through the third puts this 5yo on a par with Keep Him Company; aided by the assistance of star Flat jockey Colin Keane, he's an intriguing runner.
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No / Draw
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Time + Course Horse + Weight
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Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 1 D

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Ground it out from the front at Ayr (soft) when making a successful debut for Dan Skelton, who considers him a "big, galloping type"; whether he possesses the required gears to mix it with the best of these is unlikely.
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No / Draw
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Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 13 D

Last run: 82 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Second in a 3m Irish point on good to yielding; Charlie Todd has been aboard for both his bumpers (soft), when winning well at Southwell but then 5l behind Bass Hunter at Ascot where Tally Ho Back was also ahead of him; could reverse placings with the second but there's obvious no reason why he'll be any closer to the winner of that race.
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No / Draw
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Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 11 D

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
AW winner on debut and, in the end, comfortably defied a penalty on soft ground at Huntingdon, though he appeared to hit a flat spot before staying on better than the rest; will need to be a whole lot sharper here.
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No / Draw
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Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 211 D

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
The 20-1 winner of a Grade 2 for mares at Leopardstown's Dublin Racing Festival and would probably have been second had the runner-up's rider not eased down prematurely; Bambino Fever won the same race en route to taking this last year, but this mare's claims are nothing like so convincing.
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Time + Course Horse + Weight
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Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 1 D

Last run: 48 days

W: 10st 11lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Bred to be a Cheltenham horse as a brother to Arkle winner Gaelic Warrior; what he achieved in winning a four-runner bumper at Gowran (on heavy) is anyone's guess but he did go off odds-on and did it easily in the end having come under pressure turning for home; that performance didn't scream 'Champion Bumper winner' but he's clearly open to any amount of improvement; this can be a struggle for 4yos, however.
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No / Draw
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Time + Course Horse + Weight
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Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 1 D

Last run: 61 days

W: 10st 11lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Predominantly Flat bred but there are jumpers in the family; another unexposed Willie Mullins runner who won without a care in the world at Naas (soft) and he has the scope to get better; however, while ten previous winners of this had raced once, only Cue Card has won as a 4yo since 1995; Paul Townend rides.
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No / Draw
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Time + Course Horse + Weight
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Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 121

Last run: 132 days

W: 10st 4lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Three runs in French bumpers at around 1m4f on ground ranging from good to soft to heavy (all in a tongue-tie that's now dispensed with); well on top for the wins and she was beaten by a smart prospect when close up in a Grade 2 in October; it took a whopping 710,000euros to secure her services and Harry Skelton prefers her over the stable's other two runners; she's a 4yo filly receiving all the allowances and three females have won this since 2017, albeit older ones.
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No / Draw
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Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Non-runners

Charismatic Kid

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £147.70
Straight Forecast £103.45
Tricast £888.52
Trifecta £1753.50

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Keep Him Company

RP RATINGS:

Love Sign d'Aunou

SPOTLIGHT:

Bass Hunter

LAMBOURN:

Wilde's Legacy

The Times:

Moonverrin

The Guardian:

Diamant Dore

POSTDATA:

With Nolimit

Telegraph:

Love Sign d'Aunou

The Star:

Love Sign d'Aunou

Daily Mail:

Keep Him Company

Daily Mirror:

Keep Him Company

The Sun:

Keep Him Company

Daily Record:

Keep Him Company

D Express:

Bass Hunter