Blow By Blow To Return To Bumpers It has been confirmed that Blow By Blow, the best bumper horse in Ireland last season, will remain in that sphere when he returns later this year. When trained by Willie Mullins he beat Death Duty at Fairyhouse before landing the Champion Bumper at the Punchestown Festival. Behind him that day was current Supreme Novices' Hurdle favourite Moon Racer and Bacardys, winner of the Aintree bumper. He was moved to Gordon Elliott in the off season but suffered a setback and connections feel it is now too late in the season to go hurdling. "Blow By Blow will come back for a bumper this season and will not go hurdling," said Eddie O'Leary, racing manager for owners Gigginstown House Stud. "He's not long back with Gordon Elliott and the little problem he had is resolved. He had a tiny chip in his knee." Another leading bumper performer for the same team is Samcro, who cost an eye-watering £335,000 but he paid a small portion of that back when winning a decent race at Navan in December. "That race was never going to show him in his best light and Katie Walsh rode the little filly that finished second to do us for pace, so for him to win he is not slow. We were very happy," O'Leary told the Irish independent. "The plan has been to tip along and look to Fairyhouse and Punchestown. He cost what he cost - I'd have preferred to pay less for him - but he's a beautiful horse. All I know is I wanted to buy him. It's all about next year."
