Manning booked for Bumper gamble Author

MULTIPLE Group One-winning Flat jockey Kevin Manning will ride the heavily-backed First Author in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham on Wednesday.

Gerard O’Leary’s charge was the subject of serious ante-post support for the Grade One event after catching the eye when working with dual Champion Hurdle winner Hardy Eustace at Leopardstown last Sunday.

The five-year-old, who won his only start at Fairyhouse in December, is as low as 10-1 in places having been available at 33-1 at the weekend, with O’Leary delighted to have the services of a pilot well-known for his exploits on the globetrotting Alexander Goldrun among others.