Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Standard Open NH Flat Race) (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4YO to 6YO)
2m 87y Good to Soft
mid-division on outside, closed going strongly over 4f out, went 2nd 2f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on
led, ridden over 1f out, kept on, headed inside final furlong, no impression on winner towards finish
held up in mid-division, headway on inside over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 3rd close home
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, lost 3rd close home
held up towards rear of mid-division, headway on inside and hanging left when bumped 2f out, kept on, 5th and no extra inside final 75 yards
in touch early, mid-division, outpaced over 3f out, stayed on from over 1f out, going on towards finish
prominent early, held up in touch, unable to quicken 2f out, kept on again inside final furlong, no impression
chased leader, ridden over 2f out, soon lost 2nd, no extra inside final furlong
held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, one pace and no impression from over 1f out
held up in mid-division, headway on outside over 4f out, not much room when no impression over 1f out
tracked leaders, ridden and unable to quicken over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up in rear, took keen hold, headway 4f out, edged left and no impression over 1f out, well held final furlong
held up towards rear, headway over 4f out, outpaced over 3f out, no impression after
held up in rear, wide final bend, effort 2f out, soon ridden, no impression over 1f out, well beaten final furlong
mid-division, closed 4f out, outpaced 3f out, soon well beaten
held up towards rear on inside, well beaten final 2f
towards rear, struggling over 4f out, well beaten final 3f, tailed off
| Type | Winnings |
|---|---|
| CSF | £143.39 (15, 6) |
| Tricast | £7,546.71 (15, 6, 12) |
| Win | £5.00 (15) |
| Place | £2.00 (15), £6.20 (6), £13.20 (12) |
| Swinger | £259.10 (6, 12), £26.20 (6, 15), £46.70 (12, 15) |
| Exacta | £138.40 (15, 6) |
| Trifecta | £4,800.00 (15, 6, 12) |
In what became something like an anthology of terrible starts over the week, this was a particularly egregious example, the runners let go when they were nearly half a furlong from the start, immediately rendering the race a different test to the one advertised. That could have been, and should have been, avoided, but the slow pace which ensued was part of the uncertainty of racing itself, benefiting some and hindering others. It resulted in a bunched finish and the lowest rating by a winner since 2012, her 51.74s final 4f (113.0% finishing speed) the fastest by some way of any winner at the Festival in recent years.
BAMBINO FEVER (f134 here and previously) made it 3 wins out of 3 and possesses a splendid attitude even if past winners of this race have demonstrated more apparent ability. She raced in mid-field before making headway wide over 2f out, ridden to lead with 1f to go and running on well. She is from a good jumping family and should make her mark in good hurdles at this trip and further.
HEADS UP (f139 here, 132 previously) may prove somewhat flattered by this, allowed to dictate slow fractions, quickening 3f out and a couple of lengths to the good until run down with 1f to go then keeping on. He did have 3 bits of useful bumper form going into this, however, including a second to Kalypso’chance at Navan the time before.
SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY (f137 here, 128 previously) ran really well despite seeming unsuited by how things unfolded, in mid-field but tapped for toe on the inner turning in then staying on well despite edging right at one point. He should be suited by at least 20f over hurdles.
CABALLERO CLIFF (f135 here, 117 previously) was first home of the Brits and ran out of his skin, tracking the pace before running on steadily into a brief third in the final 1f. He had looked a stayer (despite some elements of his breeding) when 4th in a listed race here the time before.
EL CAIROS (f135 here, 118 previously) improved plenty on the form of his Newbury win and may do better again, doing some good running to emerge from mid-field with a chance of a place, only to be briefly short of room and find no extra late on. He is one of the better prospects in this field.
IDAHO SUN (f133+ here, 121 previously) did well to finish where he did given how things unfolded, tracking the leaders until badly outpaced as things heated up then running on strongly, faster than all bar the winner in the final 1f. He should do well in novice hurdles next season, especially at trips longer than this.
SORTUDO (f132 here and previously) raced fairly close up until unable to go with the principals late on, showing useful bumper form again.
HE CAN’T DANCE (f130 here, 132 previously) was close to his previous form, in second much of the way but one paced when it mattered.
NO DRAMA THIS END (f129 here, 119 previously) looks one of the better prospects in this field, a jumping type who raced quite close up but was outpaced when it mattered before keeping on again.
COPACABANA (f128 here, 129 previously) lacked experience and was unable to improve on his debut form, always around the same position. He looks a useful prospect for novice hurdles still.
KALYPSO’CHANCE (f128 here, 143 previously) held strong form claims (had beaten Heads Up comprehensively the time before) but failed to deliver, going a bit freely close up with the pace slow then finding little when push came to shove.
GAMEOFINCHES (f128 here, 130 previously) lacked experience and failed to improve on his impressive debut win in a race that may not have suited him, going freely early and one paced late on. He does look one of the better prospects in this field with more time under his belt, however.
I STARTED A JOKE (f127 here, 129 previously)
FORTUNE DE MER (f125 here and previously)
DALSTON LAD (f116 here, 119 previously)
LANCELOT ALLEN (f114 here, 115 previously)
AQUA FORCE (f0 here, 131 previously) had smashed up modest rivals on her recent debut but went as if all wasn’t right, in trouble fully 5f out.
