The Bumper

I have smashed into this one, so beware anyone contemplating having an interest on him.

As low as 4/1 in places already

West Coast Time (Joseph O'Brien, Tabor colours) very impressive there at Cork beating a decent one in Drumconnor Lad (second to Ballyward last time, albeit beaten 15 lengths or so). West Coast Time travelled sweetly and put 9 lengths between him and Drumconnor Lad with little fuss; being by Westerner out of Refinement, he's entitled to be good and 14/1 looks pretty fair for the Bumper for me.

Joseph OB also has an interesting one tomorrow in the bumper at Naas, for JP - Le Richebourg, a half brother to Gevrey Chambertin.

From Irish Racing Live on Twitter: JoeO'Brien-WestCoastTime:"not a bad horse, not sure if Chelt' Bumper would be right this year but maybe.Will have to run again to go."

Doesn't sound like they'd already had him in mind as their Bumper horse.

Nice to see a bit of blue for Getabird... PP have him into 9/2 now.

My Dad was at Cork for the West Coast Times bumper. He said it was the easiest bumper winner he's ever seen (and he's seen a few in his time!). Mightily impressed.

Personally I've a few quid already antepost on Western Ryder (there's a real Westerner theme here!). He came good at Ascot and Greatrex is defo sending him to Cheltenham.

Great username

Great punting username, any winner at this craic would probably have gone through fckin medical school in the time he spent down the years!

Full brother to Ballyandy- Kaveman makes his racecourse debut this Saturday at Warwick. The dam also produced the 2010 Aintree champion bumper winner- Megastar. Noticed its 40-1 for the Champion Bumper and maybe one to keep an eye out for

Getabird declared to run in the last at Gowran Park tomorrow - the opposition looks pitiful...

mullins does his usual sits still for 7/8ths of the race before having a fit for the final 1/8.

Thought the exact same thing Duffy. Let it turn into a sprint. Still, horse did well to still win and the second isn't a bad horse imo... prices were a joke today.

A bit more experience for him.

Potentially interesting race at Naas on Saturday. WPM has both Carter McKay and Next Destination entered and hopefully at least one of those two will take on West Coast Time.

getabird drifted to 7.2 to back this evening.....market just been suspended

last price matched 18

It has drifted markedly. Could be something untoward has happened or sheer market manipulation. But no worries, Mullins will reassure backers it is only a tweaked muscle!

Big showdown at Naas tomorrow. Carter McKay vs West Coast Time

Trip will surely suit Carter.

A fairly significant amount of money, considering the poor liquidity, looking to lay Getabird at 8. Fearing the worst here

Agree, he looks to be out.

I had 25's in the book as well.

Hell of a build up for Ricci this.

Getabird out of the festival.

Definitely out then, is it?

Absolutely sick

Where this Mullins confirmed??Sickener!Ricci be packing up shortly!Getting it tight!

RP website reported Joe Chamber's (Ricci's racing manager). Chamber: "He is unlikely to make Cheltenham and more than likely he'll be out for the season. He's sore behind, unfortunately. It might have happened as a result of or during his run at Gowran but the prognosis is to miss Cheltenham rather than his racing career."

ffs..cheers!!

That was very impressive by Carter McKay

Agree jb23. Interesting he's by the same Sire as Pique Sous who ran a blinder in a real hot Chelt Bumper. Can see this one being really short on the day unless something else comes out of the clouds.

Was also very impressed by Daphne Du Clos at Newbury. Got the impression that the way it travelled into the race, better spring ground should suit. Turning into a nice little race at the moment.

Henderson isn't a big fan of the Cheltenham bumper. In any event, Daphne Du Clos will be aimed at the mares only bumpers at Sandown in March and Aintree in April.

Britain's best bumper horse this year is Western Ryder and Greatrex confirmed long ago that Cheltenham was the target. It was no disgrace getting beaten by Daphne Du Clos at Newbury when trying to concede 21 lbs to the winner.

Fulham Road runs in a bumper at Fairyhose those weekend

I seem to remember him being a big fancy last year before being kept at home

just seen him quoted at 10/1 on skybet and don't remember seeing him loses before hand

Pretty sure Fulham Road has been touted for the last two Champion Bumpers. Shouldn't be quoted this year though as now 7yo and therefore ineligible. Also a good few quoted in places who have already been over hurdles.

Don't know if he is an intended runner or not ,but ravenhill road has done nothing wrong ,keeps improving and has speed

Don't know if he is an intended runner or not ,but ravenhill road has done nothing wrong ,keeps improving and has speed

Impressive as he undoubtedly was second time, Ravenhill Road has won two class 6 bumpers worth a combined £3.5k which, at risk of going all Van Der Wheil on the forum, is a long way short of Champion Bumper standard.

Cue Card won one class 6 junior bumper worth £1,431.10 before bolting up at Cheltenham so you're talking crap.

could be mistaketen but sure ive seen Ravenhill Road is OUT after meeting with a set back

As he was my idea of a bet for the race

Wouldn't surprise me if he'd had a setback as trainer said he'd be going hurdling but hasn't been seen on the track since November. I'd hoped he was being kept back for the Cheltenham bumper but a setback sounds more likely.

Sure enough
"I was speaking to Brian Ellison at Musselburgh yesterday. The Malton based trainer told me his unbeaten bumper horse Ravenhill Road won't be sighted on a racecourse until the Autumn having incurred a minor setback. Brian didn't appear to be too concerned about the injury but owner Phil Martin didn't want to take any risks with such an exciting prospect."

Willie on Carter McKay:

He looks the pick of our bumper horses based on what he did in his last start and he will run in the Champion Bumper. Any horse that can win as he did at Naas is a fair machine. I can’t imagine the ground will be any great concern for him regardless of how it turns up. We haven’t talked about riding plans for the bumpers yet, but it might be hard to dislodge Patrick off him!

Confirmation of the Ballyward problem:

He has been entered in the Champion Bumper, but he pulled a muscle the other day and we’ll have to see how he recovers from that before making a decision on his participation.

Anything on redhotphillypeppers?

can anyone remember being less excited about a festival bumper before?

Serious lack of talking horses this year

Yes may hope MR.ED gets an entry then

Ye ^^^^^not yes

36 entries incl Western Ryder

WILLIE HAS 5.....

15Mar17 Che 2m. 4-6y NHF (75K)(Grd 1)
Next Destination
Redhotfillypeppers
Carter Mckay
Mystic Theatre
Ballyward

@Colonel Sanders -- can anyone remember being less excited about a festival bumper before?

Serious lack of talking horses this year

I do not recall ever being excited about the bumper but the lack of talking horses will surely be addressed over the next fortnight as the preview evenings get underway and pissed-up pundits, trainers and jockeys swap rumours and tales of catching pigeons.

Owner Barry Connell is always keen to win this race and I see he's got a few horses entered up. Borderline Chatho looks overpriced at 33/1.

Mr Eboue • March 1, 2017 6:52 PM GMT
Greatrex seemed confident of a big run from Western Ryder. Obviously hard to quantify the form of many runners but I got the feeling he'll be disappointed if he doesn't make the frame.

Kevin Blake bigged up WR at the BF Cheltenham preview, despite the Bumper not being covered.

Anyone got the BHA balloting ratings yet? Usually out pretty sharpish.

TIA

Although he's only won a Class 6 Bumper I note Dan Skelton said Cause Toujours was his best chance of a winner at the Moate preview.

I don't know whether he's one of those trainers who give a different horse at each preview night but I also noticed that when he took 3 for a racecourse gallop at Warwick, Harry Skelton partnered Cause Toujours rather than either of the better known others - one was Mister Mayagi, can't remember the other one.

All circumstantial obviously but the bumper is one where it's a struggle to know the value of the form going in.

Ballyward out to 25 on here.  Surely wont be running.  Daphne Du Clos, 2nd fav with many books is out to 15.5.   Maybe waiting for the mares bumper in Aintree ??  Not sure Nicky is a massive fan of the Cheltenham festival bumper.

Cause Toujours seems to be the mover in the last few days but that form of his bumper win in Warwick has worked out terribly. Probably got talked up at a preview night.  Would anybody know what Ruby rides??  I presume Carter McKay but he won this race on a 4th string one year!!!!.....

Patrick normally gets first choice and I would be amazed if he's not on Carter McKay.

Yes Patrick will be on Carter McKay according to all the previews.

Think Cause Toujours has shortened as Skelton gave it as his best chance of a winner at one.

Word on another forum that Daphne du Clos won't run.

There are none so blind as those who will not see.

Anyone mildly put out by the increasing likelihood that Henderson's wonder mare will not run at Cheltenham needs to re-read my post of 16th February on this thread.

Yes, Cash Is King called it correctly re Daphne du Clos. Fehily said it was Non Runner last night at a preview.

Has anyone any thoughts on BAKMAJ? I have had a small EW bet.  He was 2nd first time up behind Carter Mckay then won easily next time.  He is 8 times the price of the Fav for a 2 length defeat and he certainly came on for the run. I'm sure Carter has improved also, but the price difference seems extreme to me 25/1 against 3/1!!!!  Just looks value to me.

Owner Barry Connell seems to like Bakmaj a lot and rates him is number 1 bumper hope. I personally don't think the Carter McKay form is particularly strong - his impressive Naas win was in a very slow time - but I know that Connell is fielding a strong entry and would love to win this race.

Cash is King.... who are you calling blind? And who is put out?

Cash Is King. Its also a bit odd to use the time as some kind of negative to that Naas run. The time is completely pointless in a four runner crawl of a race that tuned into a sprint.

Henderson confirms Daphne Du Clos does not run in the bumper

Had a ton on Bakmaj @ 20/1 nrnb earlier after reading Barry Connells bit on the RP website.

Watched the video of his two runs and he must have traded at odd-on against Carter McKay with a 150 yards to run and then won well last time.
Shouldn't be 6 or 7 times the price of the favourite and hopefully I can lay off at around 10/1-12/1 on the day for a nice free bet.

Thought Cash is King might be interested to know Daphne du Clos was definitely running at the Festival until she bruised a foot this weekend. NJH is apparently gutted as he was very sweet on her chances.

That's from an owner who was at the yard on Sunday.

She will miss the rest of the season btw.

Can't catch me - no I'm not nterested. Henderson is a creature of habit. He doesn't target the bumper and certainly doesn't aim his mares at it. DDC is clearly decent but if she had run at Cheltenham she wouldn't have beaten WR who is, according to Greatrex, the best British bumper horse this season.

Losing count of the non runners or short price favourites that Can't Catch Me thinks might win the Bumper. Perhaps his energy would be best wasted pipedreaming on the sad feckwits "this year's plunge" thread.

True post^

There are none so blind as those who will not see.

Anyone mildly put out by the increasing likelihood that Henderson's wonder mare will not run at Cheltenham needs to re-read my post of 16th February on this thread.

Why would anyone want to read a post that was incorrect?

Losing count of the non runners or short price favourites that Can't Catch Me thinks might win the Bumper.

Can you really not count past one?

From the RP website. (Echoes what I posted on 16th February and no mention of a bruised foot.)

Henderson rules Daphne Du Clos out of Bumper
 
By Graham Dench
10:42AM 7 MAR 2017
 
DAPHNE DU CLOS, second favourite for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper, will miss the race trainer Nicky Henderson has disclosed. The four-year-old filly leaped out of the pack and to the head of affairs when running out an easy three and a quarter length winner of the same Newbury bumper on Super Saturday Ballyandy claimed en route to festival glory last year.
"We've simply decided that she's not going to cope with it, and she'll sit still for a while now," explained Henderson. "We're going to run Claimantakinforgan in the race."
As a four-year-old and a filly Daphne Du Clos would have been in receipt of over a stone and consequently she was no bigger than 8-1, and as short as 6-1 in a place, for the festival Grade 1.

So you're suggesting I'm making it up then Cash? Interesting.

From attheraces:

Setback rules Daphne Du Clos out of Champion Bumper mission
Nicky Henderson has ruled Daphne Du Clos out of the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at next week's Cheltenham Festival.

Tuesday 07 March 2017News

Nicky Henderson has ruled Daphne Du Clos out of the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at next week's Cheltenham Festival.

The four-year-old filly had been second favourite for the race behind Willie Mullins' Carter McKay after her easy win in a Listed heat at Newbury last month.

She would have been in receipt of all the allowances at Prestbury Park but has picked up a minor problem which has brought her season to a premature end.

Henderson tweeted: " Daphne Du Clos has picked up a tiny problem which rules her out of the Cheltenham Bumper. It's a terrible shame but she'll be back next year."

Sounds to me like the RP quote means she isn't going to cope with it, considering the small injury she had.

But of course Cash Is King will know best, so will defer to his expert opinion.

If Daphne Du Clos has picked up an injury and misses the rest of the season then that's a great shame. Henderson clearly holds the mare in high regard and she's an exciting prospect.

I think it significant that the Harrington horse, Someday, has halved in price in the last few days. Some of that contraction will be down to the announcement of DDC's absence but I think Someday's recent win at Leopardstown was just as impressive as Carter Mckay's win at Naas the day before and Someday's price is now probably where it should have been all along.

carter mckay looks like some tool.

the sentimental bet irish roe is interesting. looking at her races I think she's more than just a nice story, she has some serious acceleration.

if she wins, given the modest background of her connections, ITV will surely egg it to death.

Looks a substandard renewal. Carter Mckay overbet because of Mullins' record in the race and visually taking style of his Naas win. (Gordon Elliott apparently described his horse that Carter Mckay beat that day as a donkey! )

We are in that phoney war phase when horses shorten simply because some half-cut pundit named them as an each-way shout at a preview night. Anything with four legs and a double-digit price will do.

That said, I'm open to the argument the fav is only the fav because WPM's best two got injured.

Best two Ramruna? I think Getabird was their first pick. But pretty sure CM was their second.

He looks a bit short maybe, but I'm suglging to see which horse should be fav if some are suggesting CM shouldn't be.

Ballyward was shorter than Carter McKay before his injury scare (still not certain to run but that betting history might be worth bearing in mind if he does line up).

You sure about that Ramruma? Surely the BW injury came to light more recently than McKay's Naas run, after which McKay went clear fav by about four points (from BW and Daphne).

Not sure BW has been touted seriously as Patrick's mount at any stage and Ruby down for Next destination per WPM at his open day. Ballyward is a big staying chaser and - given connections and the injury niggle - personally I would be  v surprised to see him there on the day.

carter mckay

galloping grey

champagne fever anyone?

Mar 8, 2017 -- 3:57PM, lewisham ranger wrote:

carter mckaygalloping grey champagne fever anyone?

Is that the horse which also runs under the name Ballycasey?

2 Names....1 horse

You sure about that Ramruma? Surely the BW injury came to light more recently than McKay's Naas run, after which McKay went clear fav by about four points (from BW and Daphne).

No I'm not sure; you are probably right but whatever the reason, Ballyward was originally shorter than CM so the point stands.

Spot on JustSo.

Hoping Dans Le Vent turns up, has a real fast ground action and was right up there in the top bumper race ran in England so far. At 4yo has any amount of improvement and is 130's on here.

Claimantakinforgan will run for Henderson, Champ won't.

Carter McKay will prove to be the best bumper horse seen for a long time. Bet of the Meeting(full stop)

Get to the bar for another pint when this bookies benefit is on

haven't followed the bumper form much this year but i was at warwick when cause toujours won on desperate ground (two days after i was lucky enough to see neon wolf hose up in a uttoxeter soft ground bumper) and it was given a really odd i.e. extremely confident ride by skelton, dropped right in and going wide all the way round when most of the winners that day e.g. willoughby court went up the inside albeit they always seem to slingshot off the final bend and come stands side, and considering it was well backed 5-2 fav, it's clearly very highly thought of - no idea if its good enough to win next week but i'll be paying close attention!

Final post from me on this particular thread.

I'm in no doubt that the bumper this year is a substandard renewal with no standout horse. Carter McKay doesn't look anything special and even if he was, I wouldn't want to back him at 3/1.

Final shortlist (in decreasing order of betting attractiveness) is as follows:

Western Ryder (Best of the British trained runners)
Someday (Looks to be best of the Irish trained runners but Kate Harrington riding is a negative notwithstanding past wins on the horse)
Go Another One (A lively outsider at 25/1 who beat some decent yardsticks when last seen in August 2016. Might not act on soft)
Bakmaj (Owned by Barry Connell who would love to win this race and who fielded a number of strong contenders at the entry stage. Closely matched with Carter Mackay but can be backed at 5x the price)
Imperial Elegance (Closely matched with Western Ryder)
Fayonagh (Highly regarded Gordon Elliott trained mare. Probably won't run)


The standout selection at current prices is Go Another One.

The key horse to help frame most of the Irish bumper form is Imperial Way.

Redhotfillypeppers runs in a mares bumper so I imagine that's her out.

Had a couple of small L15s with her in and currently price @16s on PP

I have always liked John McConnell trained "Go Another One" - I have taken 33/1 ew NRNB -  im not even sure the horse is going to line up as i cannot find any info anywhere as to the condition or running plans of the horse.

Its my NAP of the meeting if he runs - which i will explain why in a further post.

Perfect Harmony @ 40/1 for me.

Carter Mackay out to 5s

Market adjusting itself?

seems a backable price now.

one thing it will do is travel very well in running. a back to lay at worst.

What a star Fayonagh was in this race. Huge shame