Champion Bumper Tips: Will Mullins continue to dominate?

Wednesday's action at the Cheltenham Festival draws to a close with the Champion Bumper (17:20 GMT), which is the only flat race over the course of the four-day spectacle at Prestbury Park.

It has been won by trainer Willie Mullins in six of the past eight years. He boasts four of the seven favourites at the time of writing, including the current front-runner. My Champion Bumper Tips can be found below.

Our in-house Horse Racing tipster Owen McMahon has gone through the card for Wednesday's Races and made a selection for every race. Read who he's backing and why with our Cheltenham Day 2 Tips.

Champion Bumper Odds

Each-way - Keep Him Company @ 15/2

Mullins has won this race 14 times but there are others who have tasted victory more than once. Gordon Elliott has saddled two winners in the past nine years (Fayonagh in 2017 and Envoi Allen in 2019).

He was left disappointed in 2025 as favourite Kalypso'chance finished 11th. This will have only spurred Elliott on in his preparations for this year's Festival. He boasts the second favourite in KEEP HIM COMPANY, which he may see as a good omen after what unfolded at Prestbury Park 12 months back.

The six-year-old gelding has won on each of his three starts to date, including two over rules at Fairyhouse and Leopardstown. He's back in action after almost three months away, which has all been part of the plan for Elliott.

Keep Him Company is owned by the Gigginstown House Stud, led by businessman Michael O'Leary. They have enjoyed plenty of winners at Cheltenham over the years, including the legendary Tiger Roll. Jalon d'Oudairies was their entry in this race in 2024 and he finished third.

I have a good feeling about Keep Him Company's chances given how well he is being backed at this moment in time, along with his promising performances to date. He is going to be in the capable hands of Jack Kennedy, Elliott's leading stable jockey.

Given Mullins' dominance in the Champion Bumper, I'd recommend covering Keep Him Company with an each-way bet.

Each-way - Our Trigger @ 12/1

Sorry, I couldn't resist covering a Mullins entry but you can understand why, right? His record in the Champion Bumper speaks for itself and he is attempting to land the second hat-trick of his career on Wednesday.

Love Sign D'aunou is his stable's best chance of glory according to the betting at 5/1. Patrick Mullins is in the saddle and he boasts two victories in the previous four editions of this race (Facile Vega in 2022 and Jasmin De Vaux in 2024).

For better value, I'm taking a look at another runner from Mullins' stable, and I am particularly drawn to OUR TRIGGER. He is the brother of 2024 Arkle champion Gaelic Warrior, so success at the Festival is in his blood.

This race can be challenging for four-year-olds but he impressed on his debut at Gowran Park in January to win a four-runner bumper. He hasn't been tested enough to be considered as a strong contender here but the son of Maxios looks open to further improvement.

With an experienced rider in Danny Mullins to guide him on Wednesday, I wouldn't be surprised to see Our Trigger ruffle some feathers.

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Extra Place Race - Paying four places instead of three at 1/5 odds

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