Cheltenham Betting
The Champion Bumper - Cheltenham Wednesday
• All of the last ten winners were aged five or six
• Nine of the last ten winners were bred in Ireland (No French bred has ever been placed)
• Eight of the last ten winners were last time out winners (that stat covers fifteen of the seventeen winners of the Champion Bumper)
The Champion Bumper is usually a decent betting heat and a great race to get stuck into.
Total Enjoyment landed me one of my biggest wins ever in this contest when backed from 20/1 all the way down to 7/1 in 2004. I think half of Ireland was on that one!
This year, one horse that looks very interesting is Megastar. It is not a Willie Mullins hotpot, nor is it in the first five of the betting, but in my eyes this horse will go very well here.
Megastar’s first race at Sandown on Good, Good to Soft going was very impressive; he is a flyer! He beat some decent horses and in a matter of strides put the race to bed.
If you have not watched the closing stages of that Sandown race I would advise you to look it up and ask yourself would you be interested in taking 25/1 about that horse improving?
It is worth noting that Wayward Prince, who finished behind Megastar at Sandown, went on to win a maiden hurdle by 11 lengths, but even more eye-catching he was a runner up in the Class 1 Albert Bartlett novices hurdle at Haydock, beaten only a length.
3rd to Megastar that day was Rebel Rebellion, who next time out won a NH Flat race by 6 lengths.
4th to Megastar that day was Master of the Hall, who won two novice hurdles next time out.
As you can see the race form reads very well and that’s why I am interested.
He should not be 25/1. I would not be surprised if he started a lot shorter come race day.
There are plenty of unknowns in this race and some are sure to improve.
I was interested to read that Davy Russell liked Tavern Times, who is part owned by his father, and should know what they have.
Russell’s comments were “He’s very good, I promise ye, lads”.
Looking at the form, he matches the criteria for this race. I like a horse who has won in a larger sized field for this.
Plus a couple of winners have come out of the race he won at Fairyhouse since.
He is Irish trained, 6 years old and won last time out, so he fits the bill nicely.
Recommended Bets:
Megastar – 1.5 pts each-way @ 25/1
Tavern Times – 1 pt each-way @ 12/1
