The Champion Bumper is the most unique contest at the Cheltenham Festival, offering a glimpse into the future stars of National Hunt racing at the earliest stage of their respective careers.
As the only flat race at the Festival, it often showcases high-class young horses before they embark on hurdling or chasing careers.
With the Champion Bumper odds still wide open at this stage, we look back at the last five winners and assess the leading contenders for this year’s renewal.
The last five winners
Below are the last 5 winners of the Champion Bumper…
2024: Jasmin De Vaux
Jasmin De Vaux stormed up the Cheltenham Hill 12 months ago, keeping on well to secure victory from Romeo Coolio under Patrick Mullins.
Trained by Willie Mullins, the gelding marked a record-extending 13th win in the Champion Bumper for the Clusotton handler, and upheld Ireland’s dominance in the race.
Jasmin De Vaux won a Maiden Hurdle on reappearance at Navan in December but hasn’t made much of an impression on his last two attempts at Grade 1 level over the smaller obstacles.
2023: A Dream To Share
A Dream To Share provided a moment redolent of its own fairy-tale in 2023, winning for trainer John Kiely and jockey John Gleeson.
The victory was particularly memorable as it was the first Cheltenham winner for both trainer and rider at very different stages of their respective careers.
18-year-old Gleeson steered A Dream To Share to victory on his first ever ride at the Festival for 86-year-old veteran Kiely.
2022: Facile Vega
Facile Vega, a son of the legendary Quevega, carried immense expectations into the 2022 Champion Bumper — and he duly delivered.
Also trained by Mullins, he produced a commanding display to win by almost four lengths from his nearest rival, American Mike.
Facile Vega won the Grade 1 Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown the following season but has arguably not lived up to his potential.
2021: Sir Gerhard
Sir Gerhard’s triumph in 2021 saw him defeat stablemate Kilcruit by just half-a-length in an exciting finish under Rachael Blackmore.
Initially trained by Gordon Elliott, Sir Gerhard moved to Mullins just weeks prior to the Festival, but that didn’t halt his preparation.
Sir Gerhard landed a second Cheltenham victory 12 months later, beating Three Stripe Life in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.
2020: Ferny Hallow
Ferny Hallow’s success in 2020 was one of the biggest upsets in recent memory, as he was as far out as 11/1 in the racing odds.
Despite his lengthy price, Ferny Hallow beat his more favoured stablemate, Appreciate It, with conviction—driven out for a two-and-a-half-length win.
Ferny Hallow won his sole start over hurdles and Grade 3 and Grade 1 contests over fences but sadly passed following a fatal fall at Cork in December.
Favourites for the 2025 Champion Bumper
With the 2025 Champion Bumper fast approaching, a new crop of exciting young horses are set to battle for supremacy. Here are the leading contenders:
Copacabana – 4/1
Made an impressive racecourse debut for Mullins at Navan in February, winning by five lengths from Burros Drive and shot to favouritism at 4/1.
Kalypso’chance – 6/1
A horse with a big reputation out of Elliott’s yard, Kalypso’chance won a point-to-point and is unbeaten in two bumper starts—including at Listed level.
Windbeneathmywings – 6/1
Britain’s leading hope of ending a losing streak, Windbeneathmywings joined David Pipe in November and hosed up in a Listed race at Ascot on yard debut to extend record to 3-4.
Bambino Fever – 6/1
Another horse trained by 13-time Champion Bumper-winning handler Mullins, Bambino Fever is unbeaten in two bumpers and was last seen winning a Grade 2.
