Love Sign d’Aunou, the runaway Naas winner, leads 36 entries for the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival. This five-year-old horse made a seamless transition from point-to-point racing, scoring over two and a quarter miles last month. With 19 entries from Ireland, seven of which are from Closutton, the competition is fierce. Gigginstown Stud-owned Navan winner The Irish Avatar, along with Our Trigger and Quiryn, are potential runners for Willie Mullins, who is already the leading trainer in the race and seeking his 15th success. The Gordon Elliott-trained trio of Keep Him Company, With Nolimit, and Charismatic Kid could also represent Gigginstown, having finished second and third behind stablemate Broadway Ted at Leopardstown earlier this month.
The British challenge looks strong with Chris Gordon’s Ascot listed winner Bass Hunter and Dan Skelton’s French recruit Mets Ta Ceinture, a four-year-old filly who finished second in a Grade 2 at Saint Cloud. Oh My Word, who will have his first start for Tony Martin since switching from Thomas Cleary, remains engaged. But here's where it gets controversial: despite being an impressive Leopardstown winner, Bentraghhill is not entered for Willie Mullins.
The Champion Bumper is a Grade 1 contest being run in memory of Sir Johnny Weatherby. Click here to view the racecard: https://www.sportinglife.com/racing/racecards/2026-03-11/cheltenham/racecard/900310/weatherbys-champion-bumper-standard-open-nh-flat-race-grade-1-gbb-race
In other Cheltenham news, thirty-five horses hold entries in the Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase, the amateur riders’ race that follows the Cheltenham Gold Cup over the same distance. Last year’s winner Wonderwall is on target to defend his crown, while Its On The Line has finished runner-up in the race for the past three seasons. The third home, Willitgoahead, is one of two Bective Stud-owned entries for Gordon Elliott, the other being Chemical Energy.
Con’s Roc finished third behind Its On The Line at Down Royal over Christmas, while Panda Boy – an easy winner at Thurles and Naas this season – completes the quartet of Irish runners that dominate the antepost market. The Kelly Morgan-trained Music Drive, who was fourth last year, and the former Willie Mullins inmate Stattler, who impressed at Fakenham earlier this month, lead the home challenge in company with Wrappedupinmay (Sam Curling) and Barton Snow (Joe O’Shea). Click here to view the racecard: https://www.sportinglife.com/racing/racecards/2026-03-13/cheltenham/racecard/900317/festival-challenge-cup-open-hunters-chase-class-2
