Champagne set to complete Bumper double
This is a contest in which it is easy enough to find fault with literally all of the ten possibilities, but Willie Mullins’ charge does appear to have the most solid credentials.
Plagued by indifferent jumping since being launched over fences, he was given two confidence-boosting spins this season, as a prelude to producing a career-best performance in the Hennessy at Leopardstown in February. His technique was almost faultless that day, as he made most of the running to beat Roberto Goldback by two lengths.
The bare form is ordinary enough, but still looks good enough to give Quel Esprit the edge in this class.
Captain Chris was fourth to Riverside Theatre in the Ryanair at Cheltenham, but is far from certain to stay what is going to be a punishing three miles and furlong slog in testing conditions.
Rubi Light is a class act and will love the surface, but one has to harbour major doubts about him getting the trip as well.
The nap vote falls on Mullins’ Champagne Fever in a hot looking betchronicle.com Champion Bumper.
He produced a fine effort to win the Weatherbys’ Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, making most of the running to beat New Year’s Eve by a length and a quarter.
The form was boosted when the sixth horse, The New One, went on to win at Aintree and, prior to Cheltenham, Champagne Fever revelled in heavy ground when scoring in a canter at Fairyhouse.
Mullins’ Loch Ard, a fresh horse, looks the one to beat in the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle.
He made a promising debut over jumps when fourth to Burrenbridge Lodge in a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse and then made no mistake with a smooth success at Gowran Park. That was a modest contest and lot more is required here, but Loch Ard does strike one as a horse with a lot of potential.
