The Champion Bumper is a Grade 1 National Hunt flat race in Great Britain which is open to racing horses aged four to six years. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and ½ furlong (2 miles and 87 yards, or 3,298 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.
The event was established in 1992, and it was initially called the Festival Bumper. In its early years it had various sponsors, including the Tote and Guinness. A more sustained period of sponsorship began when Weatherbys began supporting the race in 1997, and since then it has been known by its present title.
The Champion Bumper is the most prestigious flat race, or "bumper", in the National Hunt calendar. It often features horses which go on to become leading performers over obstacles, such as Florida Pearl and Cue Card. Occasionally jockeys from Flat racing ride in the race and it has been won by leading Flat jockeys Jamie Spencer in 2002 and Colin Keane in 2026.
Records Leading jockey (4 wins): Patrick Mullins – Cousin Vinny (2008), Champagne Fever (2012), Facile Vega (2022), Jasmin De Vaux (2024)
Leading trainer (14 wins): Willie Mullins – Wither or Which (1996), 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), Facile Vega (2022), Jasmin De Vaux (2024), Bambino Fever (2025)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer 1992 Montelado 5 Richard Dunwoody Patrick J. "Pat" Flynn 1993 Rhythm Section 4 Paul Carberry Homer Scott 1994 Mucklemeg 6 Charlie Swan Edward O'Grady 1995 Dato Star 4 Mark Dwyer Malcolm Jefferson 1996 Wither or Which 5 Willie Mullins Willie Mullins 1997 Florida Pearl 5 Richard Dunwoody Willie Mullins 1998 Alexander Banquet 5 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 1999 Monsignor 5 Brendan Powell Mark Pitman 2000 Joe Cullen 5 Charlie Swan Willie Mullins no race 2001 2002 Pizarro 5 Jamie Spencer Edward O'Grady 2003 Liberman 5 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe 2004 Total Enjoyment 5 Jim Culloty Tom Cooper 2005 Missed That 6 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2006 Hairy Molly 6 Paul Carberry Joseph Crowley 2007 Cork All Star 5 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington 2008 Cousin Vinny 5 Patrick Mullins Willie Mullins 2009 Dunguib 6 Brian O'Connell Philip Fenton 2010 Cue Card 4 Joe Tizzard Colin Tizzard 2011 Cheltenian 5 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs 2012 Champagne Fever 5 Patrick Mullins Willie Mullins 2013 Briar Hill 5 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2014 Silver Concorde 6 Robbie McNamara Dermot Weld 2015 Moon Racer 6 Tom Scudamore David Pipe 2016 Ballyandy 5 Sam Twiston-Davies Nigel Twiston-Davies 2017 Fayonagh 6 Jamie Codd Gordon Elliott 2018 Relegate 5 Katie Walsh Willie Mullins 2019 Envoi Allen 5 Jamie Codd Gordon Elliott 2020 Ferny Hollow 5 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2021 Sir Gerhard 6 Rachael Blackmore Willie Mullins 2022 Facile Vega 5 Patrick Mullins Willie Mullins 2023 A Dream To Share 5 John Gleeson John Kiely 2024 Jasmin De Vaux 5 Patrick Mullins Willie Mullins 2025 Bambino Fever 5 Jody Townend Willie Mullins 2026 The Mourne Rambler 5 Colin Keane Noel Meade
See also Horse racing in Great Britain List of British National Hunt races Recurring sporting events established in 1992 – this race is included under its original title, Festival Bumper.
References
Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
pedigreequery.com – Champion Bumper – Cheltenham. racenewsonline.co.uk – Racenews Archive (28 February 2008).