16:50 Cheltenham

Wednesday 17 March 2021

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:50

Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Standard Open NH Flat Race) (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 3m 55.48s

Chemical Energy³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: R M Power| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 122| D

50/1

Promising when landing the odds impressively at Roscommon and Down Royal first 2 starts, though could only plug on for minor money behind Kilcruit at Leopardstown last month and suddenly needs more.

Form: 114

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Cool Jet³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 115| D

50/1

Improved to open account in the mud at Thurles last month, tanking through the race and quickening clear. May do even better, but down the yard's pecking order judged on riding arrangements.

Form: 41

Creggan White Hare^t³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Jamie Bargary| T: Sean Conway| OR: 108| D

300/1

Off the mark in re-fitted tongue tie at Newcastle last month. That form falls miles short of what will be required to get competitive in this.

Form: 2871

Jack's A Legend¹²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: T J O'Brien| T: A E Jones| OR: 118WS

80/1

Has reached a useful level in bumpers without success, going close in steadily-run contest here in November. Would be a very surprising winner after 4 months off/wind op.

Form: 3-74

Kilcruit³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 139| D

10/11

Looks out of the top drawer, sauntering to victory for new yard at Navan and Leopardstown (Grade 2, impressively beat Letsbeclearaboutit by 12 lengths). Yard dominate this and he's the one to beat.

Form: 2-11

Ramillies³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: B J Cooper| T: W P Mullins| OR: 127| D

14/1

Successful return after a year off in Leopardstown bumper over Christmas and shaped well behind stablemate Kilcruit in Grade 2 there subsequently, emptying late on. Can do better still.

Form: 1/4-15

Shearer⁷⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Adrian Heskin| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 114| D

50/1

Shaped really well on debut before going one better with easy success in the mud at Warwick on New Year's Eve. Rare runner in the race for top yard and needs more to score. Tongue tie goes on.

Form: 21

Sir Gerhard⁸⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: W P Mullins| OR: 132| D

85/40

£400,000 wide-margin point winner who has stormed to victory in 2 bumpers for Gordon Elliott, powering away from Letsbeclearaboutit in listed Navan contest in December. Likely has lots more to come.

Form: 1-11

Three Stripe Life⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Jack Kennedy| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 124| D

10/1

From a useful jumps family and landed a gamble in good style on debut at Navan 7 weeks ago. Could have a lot more to offer and he figures high on the shortlist.

Form: 1

Wonderwall⁸⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: James Bowen| T: R Spencer| OR: 120| D

50/1

Landed gamble at Ascot on debut in November and ran well in listed contest back there following month, again having quite a hard race. Plenty more needed to make an impact, but not totally discounted.

Form: 13

Elle Est Belle¹²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 120| CD

16/1

Accounted for 4 previous winners on debut at Aintree in October and followed up when dead-heating in the gloom in listed contest here in November. Wouldn't dismiss.

Form: 11

Grangee³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 120| D

18/1

Took another step forward when resuming winning ways in Grade 2 mares' event at Leopardstown last month. 1 of 5 for yard with best record in the race but they have a couple of far stronger candidates.

Form: 131

I Like To Move It²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 123

40/1

Clear-cut winner of Aintree/Wincanton bumpers first 2 starts and ran a fine race in second in listed Newbury contest last month. More needed again but that isn't out of the question.

Form: 112

Super Six⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 120| D

80/1

Defending an unbeaten record after wins at Hereford and Chepstow, forging clear for an impressive success in Wales last month. Likely has even more to offer.

Form: 11

Non-Runners

Fine Casting⁵⁶

Weight: 11-5| Age: 5

T: B Pauling J: D A Jacob

Forecasts

Kilcruit (10/11), Sir Gerhard (85/40), Three Stripe Life (10/1), Ramillies (14/1), Elle Est Belle (16/1), Grangee (18/1), I Like To Move It (40/1), Wonderwall (50/1), Shearer (50/1), Chemical Energy (50/1), Cool Jet (50/1), Fine Casting (50/1), Super Six (80/1), Jack's A Legend (80/1), Creggan White Hare (300/1)

Expect Willie Mullins to dominate this once again, with KILCRUIT taken to get the better of new stablemate Sir Gerhard in a tantalising clash. Both look hugely-promising, but it's not hard to side with Kilcruit, the most impressive winner of a bumper for many a year in a Grade 2 at Leopardstown, also landed by the 2018 and 2019 winners of this race. Three Stripe Life is another key player.