Weatherbys Champion Bumper |
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| Grade 1, Standard Open NH Flat Race Cheltenham 17:30 £70,000 added, 4-6yo, 2m 87y, Class 1 
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| Wednesday 16th March 2016 | |
1 Ballyandy 5/1
2 Battleford 25/1
3 Bacardys 16/1
NR: King Uther
23 ran Distances: nse, 2l, 1l
TIME 3m 47.70s (slow by 4.70s)
Ballyandy wins the Champion Bumper under a great ride from Twiston-Davies
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Ballyandy iced the cake on a wonderful day for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies by landing the Weatherbys Champion Bumper. The winning jockey was the trainer's son, Sam, and Nigel admitted: "It is lovely when your boys are riding - it is double the excitement."
Both men were recording doubles, for Sam won the previous race, the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle, on the Paul Nicholls-trained Diego Du Charmil, while his father saddled Blaklion to take the RSA Chase under Ryan Hatch, completing a 53/1 double for the stable. Ballyandy, a 5/1 shot, kept a trio of Willie Mullins-trained horses off the top spot - he beat Battleford by a nose, with Bacardys two lengths back in third, just ahead of Castello Sforza.
Locally-based in the Cotswolds, Nigel has a terrific Festival record of 17 winners, dating back to Tipping Tim's Ultima Handicap Chase victory in 1992.
After welcoming in his first Weatherbys Champion Bumper winner, Twiston-Davies Snr said: "It was close at the finish, but I was confident during the race. Sam got into a bit of trouble coming down the hill, but said the leading horses were dropping back and knocked him back. Despite that the horse gutsed it out.
"He is better than Imperial Commander was on the Flat, so maybe he will be better over jumps. He will go hurdling next season.
"We bought him from a great source, [Northern Ireland-based] Wilson Dennison, who also supplied Blaklion and once had Yorkhill [who won today's Neptune Investment Hurdle for Willie Mullins]. This horse has jumped at home and is brilliant. It would be lovely to take him to Aintree for the bumper, but we'll see how he is, we'll not tell him how he is.
"It's great to have winners at Cheltenham - it's what we are in this job for."
The Weatherbys Champion Bumper
(Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race)
£70,000 added, 4-6yo, 2m 87y, Class 1
23 ran
Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
| Pos | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Ballyandy 5/1 | Sam Twiston-Davies 11-5 |
N A Twiston-Davies | 5 | |
| 2nd | nse | Battleford 25/1 | Mr M P Fogarty 11-5 |
W P Mullins | 5 |
| 3rd | 2 | Bacardys (FR) 16/1 | R Walsh 11-5 |
W P Mullins | 5 |
| 4th | 1 | Castello Sforza (IRE) 11/1 | B J Geraghty 11-5 |
W P Mullins | 5 |
| 5th | nk | Westend Story (IRE) 20/1 | R Johnson 11-5 |
P J Hobbs | 5 |
| 6th | 1¼ | High Bridge 12/1 | Aidan Coleman 11-5 |
J P Ferguson | 5 |
| 7th | ½ | Augusta Kate 7/2f | P Townend 10-12 |
W P Mullins | 5 |
| 8th | nse | Very Much So (IRE) 33/1 | D J Mullins 11-5 |
W P Mullins | 6 |
| 9th | ½ | First Figaro (GER) 16/1 | D N Russell 11-5 |
D K Weld | 6 |
| 9th | d.h | Rather Be (IRE) 50/1 | A Tinkler 11-5 |
N J Henderson | 5 |
| 11th | nk | Coeur Blimey (IRE) 16/1 | Lucy Gardner 11-5 |
Mrs S Gardner | 5 |
| 12th | 1 | Avenir D'une Vie (FR) 10/1 | Mr P W Mullins 11-5 |
W P Mullins | 6 |
| 13th | ½ | Pride Of Lecale 50/1 | P J Brennan 11-5 |
F O'Brien | 5 |
| 14th | 5 | Criq Rock (FR) 33/1 | Wayne Hutchinson 11-5 |
A King | 5 |
| 15th | 2½ | Turcagua (FR) 33/1 | Ms K Walsh 11-5 |
W P Mullins | 6 |
| 16th | 1½ | Onthe-westernfront (IRE) 40/1 | Ms N Carberry 11-5 |
Jonjo O'Neill | 6 |
| 17th | ½ | Compadre (IRE) 25/1 | N D Fehily 11-5 |
Jonjo O'Neill | 5 |
| 18th | 4½ | Geordie Des Champs (IRE) 100/1 | L P Aspell 11-5 |
Miss R Curtis | 5 |
| 19th | ½ | Jot'em Down (IRE) 100/1 | T Scudamore 11-5 |
D G Bridgwater | 5 |
| 20th | 1¼ | Ballymalin (IRE) 100/1 | Ryan Hatch 11-5 |
N A Twiston-Davies | 6 |
| 21st | 2¾ | New To This Town (IRE) 6/1 | J J Burke 11-5 |
Mrs J Harrington | 5 |
| 22nd | 4 | Spirit Of Kayf 100/1 | Danny Cook 11-5 |
A M Thomson | 5 |
| 23rd | ½ | Winsome Bucks (IRE) 66/1 | Mr D L Queally 11-5 |
T Hogan | 6 |
| NR | King Uther 50/1 | Tom Cannon 11-5 |
C Gordon | 6 |
MULLINS RUES PLACED FINISHES
The Willie Mullins-trained Battleford finished a game second by a nose to winner Ballyandy in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper with the County Carlow handler also saddling the third-placed Bacardys and fourth, Castello Sforza. Battleford looked the most likely winner half a furlong out but Sam Twiston-Davies, registering his second winner of the day, galvanised Ballyandy to thwart Mikey Fogarty.
Mullins said of the Andrea and Graham Wylie-owned gelding: "They [the Wylies] had had it every which way today; they have had a winner [Yorkhill], a horse coming to the last looking like it was going to win then falling [Voix Du Reve] and now this horse finishing second. I thought it was a fantastic ride from Mikey Fogarty. He rode Don Poli here [2014 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle] and it is beginning to be a lucky track for him."
Mullins said of third and fourth-placed Bacardys and Castello Sforza: "They ran very well."
Of some of his other runners, the Irish champion trainer remarked: "Avenir D'Une Vie (12th), I don't really know why he ran so disappointingly. He was in a good position and looked to be going well but just didn't seem to see it out, but I know he stays this trip which maybe suggests that the ground is a little bit too fast for him. Augusta Kate (7th) was running a fantastic race and just got knocked over coming into the straight, which knocked her back a few places, but I thought she ran well and we are pleased with that performance."
As for the next destination for some of his bumper runners, Mullins said: "I'd say most of them will now go down to Punchestown for the bumper. They will probably go along with a few others we did not get ready for Cheltenham."
The Irish handler was disappointed by the way some of his luck has gone so far this week, despite registering four winners. He added: "We are just not getting the bounce of the ball like we did last year. They were jumping the last hurdles and fences and winning the photo finishes last year at Cheltenham, but this year we are not having the same luck in those big moments. That makes the difference between a record-breaking Festival and a very good Festival."
WEATHERBYS CHAMPION BUMPER PAST RESULTS
2015-WINNER-MOON RACER 6-11-05 Owner-Professor Caroline Tisdall & Bryan Drew; Trainer-David Pipe; Jockey-Tom Scudamore; SP-9/2 Fav
2ND-Modus 5-11-05 Owner-John Deer; Trainer-Robert Stephens; Jockey-Tom O’Brien; SP-33/1
3RD-Wait For Me 5-11-05 Owner-Andrew Cohen; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-9/1
23 ran, Time-3m 50.40s Dist-1½, 1½
2014-SILVER CONCORD 6-11-05 Owner-Dr Ronan Lambe; Trainer-Dermot Weld IRE; Jockey-Mr Robbie McNamara; SP-16/1
2ND-Shaneshill 5-11-05 Owner-Andrea & Graham Wylie; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-7/2 Fav
3RD-Joshua Lane 5-11-01 Owner-Stanley Watson; Trainer-Eddie Harty IRE; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-33/1
22 ran, Time-3m 43.40s Dist-1½, 1¾
2013-WINNER-BRIAR HILL 5-11-05 Owner-Andrea & Graham Wylie; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-25/1
2ND-Regal Encore 5-11-05 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Anthony Honeyball; Jockey-A P McCoy; SP-7/1 Jt Fav
3RD-Golantilla 5-11-01 Owner-Barry Connell; Trainer-Tony Martin IRE; Jockey-Danny Mullins; SP-9/1
23 ran, Time-3m 54.7s Dist-7, 2¼ 7/1 Jt Fav Le Vent D’Antan (7th)
2012-WINNER-CHAMPAGNE FEVER 5-11-05 Owner-Susannah Ricci; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Mr Patrick Mullins; SP-16/1
2ND-New Year’s Eve 4-10-11 Owner-Bloomfields; Trainer-John Ferguson; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-9/2 Fav
3RD-Pique Sous 5-11-05 Owner-Supreme Horse Racing Club; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-12/1
20 ran, Time-3m 47.50s Dist-1¼, hd
2011-WINNER-CHELTENIAN 5-11-05 Owner-Roger Brookhouse; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-14/1
2ND Destroyer Deployed 5-11-05 Owner-The Craftsmen; Trainer-Tim Vaughan; Jockey-Aidan Coleman; SP-66/1
3RD Aupcharlie 5-11-05 Owner-Gerard Boyle; Trainer-Pat Collins IRE; Jockey- Mr Jason McKeown; SP-33/1
24 ran, Time-3m 51.85s Dist-5, 4½ 5/1 Fav Ericht (6th)
2010-WINNER-CUE CARD 4-10-12 Owner-Jean Bishop; Trainer-Colin Tizzard; Jockey-Joe Tizzard; SP-40/1
2ND Al Ferof 5-11-05 Owner-John Hales; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-8/1
3RD Frawley 5-11-05 Owner-Dr K A Roche-Nagle; Trainer-John Kiely IRE; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-14/1 24 ran, Time-3m 48.70s Dist-8, 8 3/1 Fav Shot From The Hip (20th)
2009-WINNER-DUNGUIB 6-11-05 Owner-Daniel Harnett; Trainer-Philip Fenton IRE; Jockey-Mr Brian O’Connell; SP-9/2
2ND Some Present 6-11-05 Owner-Frances Duffin; Trainer-Tom Mullins IRE; Jockey-Davy Russell; SP-25/1
3RD Rite Of Passage 5-11-05 Owner-Dr Ronan Lambe; Trainer-Dermot Weld IRE; Jockey-Pat Smullen; SP-5/2 Fav 24 ran, Time-3m 56.90s Dist-10, ¾
2008-WINNER-COUSIN VINNY 5-11-05 Owner-Festival Syndicate; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Mr Patrick Mullins; SP-12/1
2ND Corskeagh Royale 5-11-05 Owner-Queen Maeve Racing Club; Trainer-Noel Meade IRE; Jockey-Miss Nina Carberry; SP-7/1
3RD Zaarito 6-11-05 Owner-Victoria Syndicate; Trainer-Colm Murphy IRE; Jockey-Davy Russell; SP-3/1 Fav
23 ran, Time-4m 1.30s Dist-3¼, ¾
2007-WINNER-CORK
ALL STAR 5-11-05 Owner-Cathal Ryan; Trainer-Jessica Harrington IRE; Jockey-Barry
Geraghty; SP-11/2
2ND Sophocles 4-10-11 Owner-Mrs A Donnelly; Trainer-James Leavy IRE;
Jockey-Miss Pauline Ryan; SP-40/1
3RD Aranleigh 5-11-05 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Tony Mullins IRE; Jockey-Tony
McCoy; SP-8/1
24 ran, Time-3m 47.90s Dist-1¼, 1½ 4/1 Fav Mad Fish
(8th)
2006-WINNER-HAIRY
MOLLY 6-11-05 Owner-F T B Syndicate; Trainer-Joe Crowley
IRE; Jockey-Paul Carberry; SP-33/1
2ND Pressgang 4-10-11 Owner-Mrs Anthony West; Trainer-Paul Webber; Jockey-Tom
Doyle; 20/1
3RD Kicks For Free 5-11-05 Owner-Mark Tincknell; Trainer-Paul Nicholls;
Jockey-Mick Fitzgerald; SP-5/1
23 ran, Time-3m 46.70s Dist-hd, 1.75 5/2 Fav Equus Maximus (12th)
2005-WINNER-MISSED
THAT 6-11-05 Owner-Violet O’Leary;
Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-7/2 Fav
2ND De Soto 4-10-12 Owner-Peter Deal; Trainer-Paul Webber; Jockey-Tom
Doyle; SP-20/1
3RD Rasharrow 6-11-05 Owner-Ashleybank Investments Limited; Trainer-Len
Lungo; Jockey-Tony Dobbin; SP-9/1
24 ran, Time-3m 52.70s Dist-nk, .5
2004-WINNER-TOTAL ENJOYMENT 5-10-12 Owner-It Will Never Last Syndicate;
Trainer-Tommy Cooper IRE; Jockey-Jim Culloty; SP-7/1
2ND Refinement 5-10-12 Owner-Michael Tabor; Trainer-Jonjo O’Neill;
Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-7/1
3RD Master Albert 6-10-12 Owner-Sue Magnier; Trainer-David Wachman IRE;
Jockey-Mr J P Magnier; SP-50/1
24 ran, Time-3m 48.30s Dist-2.5, 5 7/2 Fav Martinstown (14th)
2003-WINNER-LIBERMAN 5-11-06 Owner-David Johnson; Trainer-Martin Pipe;
Jockey-Tony McCoy; SP-2/1 Fav
2ND Trabolgan 5-11-06 Owner-Trevor Hemmings; Trainer-Nicky Henderson;
Jockey-Seamus Durack; SP-50/1
3RD Widemouth Bay 5-11-06 Owner-Jackie Deithrick; Trainer-Philip Hobbs;
Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-33/1
25 ran, Time-3m 52.30s Dist-.5, 1
2002-WINNER-PIZARRO 5-11-06 Owner-Edward Wallace;
Trainer-Edward O’Grady
IRE; Jockey-Jamie Spencer; SP-14/1
2ND-Rhinestone Cowboy 6-11-06 Owner-Sue Magnier; Trainer-Jonjo O’Neill;
Jockey-Norman Williamson; SP-5/2 Fav
3RD-Back In Front 5-11-06 Owner-Nelius Hayes; Trainer-Edward O’Grady
IRE; Jockey-Charlie Swan; SP-12/1
23 ran, Time-4m 0.70s; Dist-nk, 3.5
2001-Race Cancelled
2000-WINNER-JOE CULLEN 5-11-06 Owner-Jackie Mullins; Trainer-Willie
Mullins IRE; Jockey-Charlie Swan; SP-14/1
2ND-Inca 5-11-06 Owner-Trevor Hemmings; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Mick
Fitzgerald; SP-2/1 Fav
3RD-Be My Royal 5-11-06 Owner-Mrs Violet O’Leary; Trainer-Willie
Mullins IRE; Jockey-Mr James Nash; SP-16/1
17 ran, Time-3m 41.20s, Dist-3.5, 2
1999-MONSIGNOR 5-11-06 Owner-Malcolm Denmark; Trainer-Mark Pitman; Jockey-Brendan
Powell; SP-50/1
2ND-Golden Alpha 5-11-06 Owner-David Johnson; Trainer-Martin Pipe; Jockey-Tony
McCoy; SP-7/2
3RD-Canasta 5-10-13 Owner-Southern Brick & Tile Co./D S Arnold; Trainer-Mark
Pitman; Jockey-Liam Corcoran; SP-25/1
25 ran, Time-3m 54.8s, Dist-1.5, .75 11/4 Fav Biliverdin (15th)
1998-WINNER-ALEXANDER BANQUET 5-11-06 Owner-M Swarbrick; Trainer-Willie
Mullins IRE; Jockey-Mr Ruby Walsh; SP-9/1
2ND-Joe Mac 4-10-12; Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Christy Roche IRE; Jockey-Conor
O’Dwyer; SP-6/4 Fav
3RD-Frantic Tan 6-11-06; Owner-The Bunkers Hill Mob; Trainer-Nigel Twiston-Davies;
Jockey-Carl Llewellyn; SP-8/1
25 ran, Time-3m 45.7s, Dist-2.5, 7
1997-WINNER-FLORIDA PEARL 5-11-06 Owner-Violet
O’Leary; Trainer-Willie
Mullins IRE; Jockey-Richard Dunwoody; SP-6/1
2ND-Arctic Camper 5-11-06 Owner-Lady Harris; Trainer-David Nicholson;
Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-16/1
3RD-All The Colours 4-10-12 Owner-Pat Byrnes; Trainer-John Mulhern IRE;
Jockey-Jamie Osborne; SP-8/1
25 ran, Time-3m 45.1s, Dist-5, 2 4/1 Fav Dawn Leader (13th)
1996-WINNER-WITHER OR WHICH 5-11-06 Owner-Robert Sinclair; Trainer-Willie
Mullins IRE; Jockey-Mr Willie Mullins; SP-11/4
2ND-Alzulu 5-11-06 Owner-D Buckle; Trainer-Jimmy FitzGerald; Jockey-Peter
Niven; SP-25/1
3RD-Mighty Moss 5-10-13 Owner-Ken Hutsby; Trainer-David Nicholson; Jockey-Mr
Fred Hutsby; SP-33/1
24 ran, Time-3m 53.7s, Dist-2, 3 9/4 Fav Andanito (4th)
1995-WINNER-DATO STAR 4-10-12 Owner-Kath Riley & Joe
Donald; Trainer-Malcolm Jefferson; Jockey-Mark Dwyer; SP-7/2
2ND-Red Blazer 4-10-12 Owner-Tom Shrimpton; Trainer-Henrietta Knight;
Jockey-Jamie Osborne SP-2/1 Fav
3RD-Skehanagh Bridge 6-11-06 Owner-David Pim; Trainer-Willie Mullins
IRE; Jockey-Mr Willie Mullins; SP-12/1
21 Ran, Time-4m 02.2s. Dist-1.25, 3.5
1994-WINNER-MUCKLEMEG 6-11-05 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Edward O'Grady
IRE; Jockey-Charlie Swan; SP-7/2 Fav
2ND-Aries Girl 5-11-03 Owner-Wally Sturt; Trainer-Pat Flynn IRE; Jockey-Shay
Barry; SP-5/1
3RD-Go Ballistic 5-11-03 Owner-Sheila Lockhart; Trainer-David Nicholson;
Jockey-Robert Massey; SP-16/1
25 Ran, Time-3m 53.7s, Dist-3, 15
1993-WINNER-RHYTHM SECTION 4-10-11 Owner-Robert Sinclair; Trainer-Homer
Scott IRE; Jockey-Paul Carberry; SP-16/1
2ND-Heist 4-11-02 Owner-Mrs G Matthews; Trainer-Noel Meade IRE; Jockey-Charlie
Swan; SP-9/4 Fav
3RD-Winter Belle 5-11-13 Owner-John Muldoon; Trainer-Paddy Prendergast
IRE; Jockey-John Shortt; SP-7/1
24 Ran, Time-3m 45.2s, Dist-.5, 1
1992-WINNER-MONTELADO 5-11-13 Owner-Ollie Hannon; Trainer-Pat Flynn
IRE; Jockey-Richard Dunwoody; SP-8/1
2ND-Tiananmen Square 4-10-12 Owner-Sue Magnier; Trainer-Noel Meade IRE;
Jockey-Mr Tim Hyde; SP-6/4 Fav
3RD-Maneree 5-11-08 Owner-Michael Tabor; Trainer-Neville Callaghan; Jockey-Declan
Murphy; SP-7/1
23 Ran, Time-3m 58.2s, Dist-12, 10
