RACING boff Gaurav Chaddah (@Gchaddahjourno) shares his thoughts on the Champion Bumper, the final race on Day 2.
Champion Bumper | Wednesday 13th March 2019, 17:30
This can often be a difficult race to solve, usually with Wille Mullins running many horses and can be a difficult puzzle but I think this year it is a lot simpler with a two-horse race between the two at the top of the market.
Meticulous (8/1 Bet Victor) and Abacadabras (10/1 Coral) both arrive with respect and it’s no surprise to see them third and fourth favourites.
Whilst they should run well, it is difficult to see them reversing the form with Enovi Allen (10/3 Sky Bet) who had Meticulous in second at Leopardstown last month and whilst Meticulous looked impressive enough, I can’t see him improving past Envoi Allen here.
Abacadabras ran in the same race and appeared to be travelling well turning in before running out of the rails. It’s difficult on that to trust this horse but should he be on his best behaviour then he could run well again.
Envoi Allen has been very impressive this season and a case for saying he’s the best bumper horse seen so far however I have my reservations. Gordon Elliot isn’t exactly mad keen to be running him either, based on what he has been saying in his preview nights and has went with the owners wishes instead.
The biggest hint in this race which I think is rather telling is Willie Mullins, who has such an impressive record in the race and often uses it as a springboard for his younger horses only saddles one this year, in the form of four-year-old Blue Sari (10/3 Betfair.)
He is very unexposed, having only one career run to date and only one four-year-old from a possible 58 has won the race since 2000 so the stats are very much against him however I really liked the way he won on debut and will like the softer ground.
For this to be Mullins’ only entry would suggest confidence and I think he can just get the better of Enovi Allen.
Best Bets
Champion Bumper – Blue Sari (10/3 Betfair)
