17:20 Cheltenham Tips: Can Nicholls upset Mullins in Champion Bumper?

Day two of the Cheltenham Festival concludes with the only race at the meeting that doesn't feature any jumps, the Weatherbys Champion Bumper. 

Willie Mullins has won this race an astonishing 13 times and saddles five of the 18 runners now, in what can be a hugely informative event with the future in mind. Enda provides his Champion Bumper Tips and with his Runners Guide for us at Betfred Insights...

Betfred's special offer for this one is this race will have an Extra Place Boost. That means we are paying out five places instead of four. You can check out all the Ts and Cs for our Extra Place Races boosts this Cheltenham Festival over on our main promo page (linked to at the bottom of the article). and you can double-check all the latest prices over on our main site with up-to-date National Hunt Chase Odds...

We are also paying back up to £10 in cash if your selected horse finishes second in this race.

Betfred's Cheltenham Offer for New Customers 2025

New customers only. Register (excl 05/04/25), deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility exclusions & T&Cs Apply.

Champion Bumper Runners Guide

Copacabana (Willie Mullins/Patrick Mullins) 9/4 

Trainer has utterly dominated this race down the years and has a strong hand again. An impressive debut winner at Navan last month, Patrick Mullins has nailed his colours to this mast. 

Dalston Lad (Dan Skelton/Tristan Durrell) 50/1 

Point-to-point winner is now 2-2 in bumpers after front-running wins at Ayr in October and Aintree on Boxing Day. Harry Skelton prefers Fortune De Mer. 

El Cairos (Gary & Josh Moore/David Maxwell) 22/1 

April 2024 point winner, looked a decent prospect when scooting clear under owner/rider at Newbury in November, though that form hasn't got a lot of depth to it. 

Fortune De Mer (Dan Skelton/Harry Skelton) 20/1 

Second behind Block Rockin Beats here on Rules bow in October but reversed that form next time in a Listed race back here. Has since finished fourth at Huntingdon last month. 

Gameofinches (Willie Mullins/Paul Townend) 4/1 

Lots to like in the manner of last month's debut success at Punchestown under Patrick Mullins and immediately shot to prominence for this race. Paul Townend takes over now, no bad thing, and should have plenty to offer. 

Heads Up (John McConnell/Sean Bowen) 33/1 

Winner on third start at Punchestown in November and has finished second behind Kalypso'chance in a Listed bumper at Navan on only start since. More demanded now. 

He Can't Dance (Gordon Elliott/Harry Swan) 33/1 

A £300,000 Jukebox Jury gelding, the once-raced point winner got off the mark at Navan in December and ran well in a Dublin Racing Festival Grade 2 when third behind Colcannon since. 

Idaho Sun (Harry Fry/Bryan Carver) 18/1 

Showed a pleasing attitude to score on debut at Newton Abbot on testing ground in October and followed up in a better race at Windsor in January. He did that well, but this is another jump up in class. 

I Started A Joke (Charles Byrnes/Philip Byrnes) 28/1 

Game winner at Limerick on debut over Christmas and only beaten four lengths when favourite in a Grade 2 at Leopardstown last month. More required again now. 

Kalypso'chance (Gordon Elliott/Jack Kennedy) 11/2 

British point winner, snapped up by Gigginstown and has landed bumpers at Punchestown and Navan in good style for this handler, latterly defeating Heads Up. He has achieved as much as any of these rivals. 

No Drama This End (Paul Nicholls/Harry Cobden) 14/1 

He bolted up in a point last February and the Walk In The Park gelding looked a high-class prospect when defeating well touted Keops Des Bordes at Warwick on New Year's Eve. Genuine chance for his trainer to snare a first win in this race. 

Shuttle Diplomacy (Tom Cooper/Sam Ewing) 40/1 

Landed bumpers at Naas and Limerick on testing ground last season but made no impact in a Punchestown Grade 1 when last spotted in May. 

Sortudo (Willie Mullins/Danny Mullins) 33/1 

Made a winning start at Tramore in November and second in both starts since at Leopardstown, latterly in a Dublin Racing Festival Grade 2 last month with some of these in behind. 

Aqua Force (Willie Mullins/Mark Walsh) 12/1 

Workforce mare routed her rivals in a Mares' bumper at Gowran Park last month by 28 lengths, after which she was snapped up by JP McManus and transferred to Closutton. Very interesting runner. 

Bambino Fever (Willie Mullins/Jodie Townend) 6/1 

Jukebox Jury mare has won both starts in bumpers, staying on powerfully at the Dublin Racing Festival last month under this pilot to deny the consistent Switch From Diesel (winner since) in the Fillies' And Mares Grade 2. 

Highland Haven (Fergal O'Brien/Jonathan Burke) 66/1 

She made a winning start at Ffos Las in November without being fully extended and has shown up well since in defeats at Huntingdon (Listed) and Warwick, but she will have to improve markedly to count in this company. 

Caballero Cliff (Robert Stephens/Ben Jones) 100/1 

Muhaarar colt has shown ability in two starts, including when fourth in a Listed race here on New Year's Day but he's being asked a tough question now. 

Lancelot Allen (Jane Williams/David Noonan) 50/1 

Just held on to score on debut at Bangor in December in a junior bumper, with the runner-up winning both starts since over hurdles. This is a very sharp rise in class. 

Verdict 

No Drama This End @ 14/1 & Gameofinches @ 9/2 

The Willie Mullins challenge is five-strong and they could put on some race on their own. Copacabana and Gameofinches are the once-raced winners with scope for more, while Bambino Fever is the one with experience and the other more, Aqua Force, could be anything after her wide-margin win at Gowran. 

GAMEOFINCHES looked a really exciting prospect at Punchestown last month and just about gets the verdict from the Irish contingent ahead of Gordon Elliott's Kalypso'chance, but it's close. 

Not since Ballyandy in 2016 has this race stayed in Britain. Furthermore, Paul Nicholls has never won it, but the Ditcheat supremo has a strong claim with Warwick winner NO DRAMA THIS END. 

He easily won his point and beat a well-touted Dan Skelton runner on his Rules bow at Warwick in December, clocking a good time, after which this race was nominated. He could be classy.