Willie Mullins' Champion Bumper contenders The Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival is a contest Willie Mullins has won an incredible 13 times already. No race at the Festival has proved more fruitful in a tally of 100-plus successes for the Closutton powerhouse. Mullins first bagged the race with Wither Or Which in 1996 and landed last year's renewal with Jasmin De Vaux. In between Florida Pearl (1997), Alexander Banquet (1998), Joe Cullen (2000), Missed That (2005), Cousin Vinny (2008), Champagne Fever (2012), Briar Hill (2013), Relegate (2018), Ferny Hollow (2020), Sir Gerhard (2021) and Facile Vega (2022) have all scored for Team Mullins. Can he do it again at Cheltenham 2025? We look at some of his likely contenders for the race on Wednesday, March 12th Bambino Fever The Class of '25 are seemingly now headed by this mare after she won at the Dublin Racing Festival, her second bumper success along with a point-to-point win last May. Patrick Mullins steered her home at Punchestown over 2m2½f on New Year's Eve, scoring readily, but it was Jody Townend on board at Leopardstown as she won the Grade 2 Coolmore N.H. Sires Luxembourg Irish EBF Mares I.N.H. Flat Race in fine style at the Dublin Racing Festival. Sent off at 9/1, they were behind stablemate Future Prospect in the betting but Bambino Fever made smooth progress to lead off the home bend and pulled clear, having no worries dropped in trip. That should have sealed her ticket to the Cotswolds for a crack at the Champion Bumper. Future Prospect Future Prospect had been looking to make it two bumpers and a point success as well, but her dreams were shattered at Leopardstown. She showed some quirks at Fairyhouse in her debut win and was again keener than desirable in the early exchanges at Leopardstown. Still, Patrick Mullins appeared to have plenty of horse under him approaching the final turn but his partner found less than expected and was beaten 26 lengths into fifth. She may want better ground come Cheltenham, and will have to learn to settle better, or perhaps get some cover, if she is to shine in the Cotswolds. Green Splendour Green Splendour was another Mullins inmate for whom things didn't quite go to plan at the Dublin Racing Festival. He tackled the Grade 2 on Saturday in the double green colours of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede and finished close up in fifth as Colcannon produced a strong turn of foot to win for Noel Meade and Derek O'Connor. Green Splendour had one run last year for Stuart Crawford at Newbury and had previously opened his account at Leopardstown over Christmas on his debut for Mullins. Sortudo Sortudo has shown a solid level of form in three runs. He won at Tramore on testing ground in November and has twice since finished second at Leopardstown over 2m on good to yielding and soft ground. He was the mount of Townend on day one of the DRF and finished second behind Colcannon, making good progress to challenge but just not matching the winners' turn of foot. If the ground comes up testing in the Cotswolds, a good stamina test up the Cheltenham hill could be what he wants. Leaky Cauldron Flemensfirth gelding Leaky Cauldron won a point-to-point for Colin Bowe in October 2023 and wasn't spotted again until Leopardstown over Christmas. He was towards the rear in that contest and made a move to get in contention from just after halfway. When it came to the final 2f, he appeared to lack the match-sharpness to go through with his effort after 432 days off. He may be able to leave that bare form behind when he is next spotted. Get €60 in free bets with theBoyleSports sign up offer
