Champion Bumper Tips 2022
The final race of the Cheltenham Festival Day 2 action puts the spotlight on the Champion Bumper Tips. Our betting experts look at some of the recent history of this race and the latest odds in this 2022 Champion Bumper preview. This attractive Grade 1 contest is the biggest National Hunt flat race.
Champion Bumper Potential Runners & Favourites
The Champion Bumper runners are still yet to make it into the world of chasing. It is a National Hunt race on the flat. Bumpers are beneficial developmental races, and the Cheltenham Festival Champion Bumper is the most prestigious race of its type. Here, our experts size up some top Champion Bumper tips for 2022.
FACILE VEGA dominated the ante-post market, so naturally, he is going to be looked at for Champion Bumper betting tips. The Willie Mullins-trained charge has had two racetrack appearances, winning them at Leopardstown by comfortable margins. So with some strong pedigree behind him, the 5-year-old should feature.
AMERICAN MIKE has been showing well in the Champion Bumper ante-post for this final race of Day 2. He has won all three starts for trainer Gordon Elliott, a point to point and then a couple of NH Flat efforts. American Mike looks to have a high ceiling and rates as a danger if he lines up.
REDEMPTION DAY opened his account successfully in an NH Flat race at Leopardstown in late December. That was by a margin of more than four lengths on a 2m trip, and he looks to have immense potential for trainer Willie Mullins.
It is worth looking at some longer priced options for Champion Bumper tips as well.
The 2022 renewal includes JAMES’ GATE and OUR JESTER, the latter having won both NH Flat efforts this season. Both could run well here in a race that will no doubt unearth a few stars.
Champion Bumper Confirmed Runners
| Horse | Silks | Trainer/Jockey | Odds |
| Facile Vega |  | J: Patrick Mullins T: Willie Mullins | 6/5 |
| American Mike |  | J: J J Codd T: Gordon Elliott | 5/2 |
| Redemption Day |  | J: Paul Townend T: Willie Mullins | 6/2 |
| James’ Gate |  | J: Sean O’Keeffe T: Willie Mullins | 14/1 |
| Our Jester |  | J: Nico de Boinville T: Hughie Morrison | 28/1 |
| Viva Devito |  | J: Derek O’Connor T: Willie Mullins | 28/1 |
| Rosey Redrum |  | J: Mitchell Bastyan T: Milton Harris | 28/1 |
| Music Drive |  | J: Davy Russell T: Gordon Elliott | 33/1 |
| Seabank Bistro |  | J: Brian Hayes T: Willie Mullins | 33/1 |
| Joyeux Machin |  | J: Bryan Cooper T: Paul Nolan | 33/1 |
| Madmansgame |  | J: Danny Mullins T: Willie Mullins | 33/1 |
| Poetic Music |  | J: Paddy Brennan T: Fergal O’Brien | 40/1 |
| Houlanbatordechais |  | J: Rachael Blackmore T: Willie Mullins | 40/1 |
| Authorised Speed |  | J: Joshua Moore T: Gary Moore | 50/1 |
| Top Dog |  | J: Thomas Bellamy T: Emma Lavelle | 50/1 |
| Ocean Of Mercy |  | J: Sam Twiston-Davies T: P Hennessy | 80/1 |
| Call Me Harry |  | J: C O’Farrell T: Iain Jardine | 50/1 |
| Ain’t No Sunshine |  | J: Danny Mcmenamin T: Keith Dalgleish | 80/1 |
| Spanish Present |  | J: Sean Bowen T: Martin Keighley | 50/1 |
| Cillians Charm |  | J: Jonathan Moore T: A Mccann | 80/1 |
| Esperti |  | J: Kevin Sexton T: Peter Fahey | 50/1 |
| Godot |  | J: Page Fuller T: Alan Irvine | 80/1 |
*Odds Correct as of 12pm 14/03/22*
How Often Does a Favourite Horse Win The Champion Bumper Race
Of the last ten Champion Bumper winners, only two have got their scores as the race favourite. That was Briar Hill in 2013 and more recently Envoi Allen in 2019. Looking back at that decade, there has been a relatively even mix of favourites, outsiders and stronger market contenders who came home as winners.
Only two of the last ten Champion Bumper winners, for example, have been bigger than 16/1, while six of the previous seven have been 11/1 or less in getting their victory.
So it is worth looking at plenty of options deeper in the market for coverage in Champion Bumper betting tips for the 2022 renewal.
Champion Bumper Favourites vs Winners in The Past 10 Years
| Year | Favourite Horse* | Winning Horse |
| 2021 | Kilcruit (2nd) | Sir Gerhard (85/40) |
| 2020 | Appreciate It (2nd) | Ferny Hallow (11/1) |
| 2019 | Envoi Allen | Envoi Allen (2/1) |
| 2018 | Acey Milan (4th) | Relegate (25/1) |
| 2017 | Cause Toujours (9th) | Fayonagh (7/1) |
| 2016 | Augusta Kate (7th) | Ballyandy (5/1) |
| 2015 | Moon Racer | Moon Racer (9/2) |
| 2014 | Shaneshill (2nd) | Silver Concorde (16/1) |
| 2013 | Regal Encore (2nd) / Le Vent D’Antan (7th) | Briar Hill (25/1) |
| 2012 | New Year’s Eve (2nd) | Champagne Fever (16/1) |
*(-) = Finishing Position, UR = Unseated Rider, F = Faller, RO = Ran Out, PU = Pulled Up
Champion Bumper History & Present Time
The Champion Bumper is a Grade 1 contest hosted on Day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival. This is a National Hunt flat race, and it is at a distance of 2m 1/2f on the Old Course at Cheltenham Racecourse. The fixture was introduced into the Festival in 1992.
The Champion Bumper was initially called the Festival Bumper, and it has had several high-profile sponsors throughout the years, such as Tote, Guinness and Weatherbys. This bumper has a 7lb allowance for fillies, and it is open to four to six-year-olds.
Champion Bumper Jockey & Trainer Records
The leading jockey in the race is Ruby Walsh, who took three Champion Bumper winners during his career. The most recent of those was Briar Hill in 2013.
Looking at current jockeys, the only two to have won the race more than once are Patrick Mullins and Jamie Codd, who have won it twice. Codd’s wins have both been in the last five renewals.
The leading trainer for Champion Bumper winners is Willie Mullins, who has had eleven winners in this fixture. It has been seven wins for Mullins in the last 20 editions.
So he usually has a heavy hand in this race, and his entries are always worth considering Champion Bumper tips. The only trainer to win more than once in the last 20 renewals is Gordon Elliott with two.