By James Regan – @racingtracker on Twitter
This year’s Champion Bumper looks to be a cracker, some very promising horses particularly from Ireland.
Blackbow currently tops the market and he has decent form on his 2 runs particularly at the Dublin Racing Festival when ahead of Rhinestone, that is the single best race this sesaon in Ireland, Blackbow looks a huge horse, could be a future chasing star for sure. He won well that day, but Rhinestone was only 1 and half lengths behind him and I think he will improve a lot for better ground, looks to have a good ground action and plenty of tow to boot, will need to be close to the pace.
Arguably though Hollowgraphic could be the best of these long term over a Hurdle for sure. I think though he has been slightly flattered by his win last time out. He stayed on strongly on heavy ground after the front 2 set it up for him, but he did travel very well. My one concern would be the extended lay off, over 60% of winners in the last 20 years have run between 30 days and 90 days last time out. Mullins has stated he likes the horse a lot, Patrick Mullins has a tough choice to make.
Didtheyleaveuoutto clearly has the best British form and there has been a lot of winners come out of the 2 bumpers he has won definitely has an EW Chance, hope it runs a big race for Nick Gifford, jockey booking could be very important for Gifford.
Carefully selected has won both his bumpers and what I like about him although not the strongest form is that he has won over 2m4f and then over 2m. This shows he has a bit of stamina in him and he could be the slightly under the Radar for the Mullins runners as could Relegate, if Relegate runs she will get the mares allowance and has won a decent race at Leopardstown last time out was ahead of Colreevy that day yet Colreevy is shorter in the betting.
Felix Desyj the only Gordon Elliot runner has a bit to find for me, not bad on the clock but in a race with a few possible good ones will need to improve to win this.
Other notables from an EW betting perspective if you are looking that way will be Time to Move On, Fergal O’Brien does well in Bumpers so if you want to throw a couple of quid at that I wouldn’t put you off. Know the Score for David Pipe cost a fair few pounds and has won his 2 runs at Towcester & in France, could improve and cold well be overpriced.
In a race which is wide open Blackbow definitely has the strongest form but favourites generally struggle in this only 3 have won in the last 20 years, Moon Race, Missed That & Liberman, quite a fair few have finished second, so you can say it’s best to look at horses a bigger prices, 11 winners from the last 20 being double figure SP winners.
Best Prices
My main selection is Rhinestone EW at 9/1
Each Way Options, Carefully Selected EW 16/1, Relegate EW 33/1 & Time to Move On EW 20/1
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