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Champion Bumper 2020

Caveat before I start... I don't really value bumpers in general. I think it's great if a horse shows the ability to win them, and clearly they have talent... but in National Hunt racing it's about getting over obstacles so I always treat any bumper form with a pinch of salt. Some years 'the bumper' works out well, some years it doesn't. More often than not horses don't maintain their level with the odd exception (like Envoi Allen) who is an exception rather than the rule in my opinion.

Ferny Hollow pulled hard again, and still won. He won well. He wasn't last off the bridle my any means either. The speed he seems to come from the bend to the finish line seems vastly superior to everything else. He's clearly interesting next season. I'd like to see him settle much better over hurdles.

I think he's just a faster horse than Appreciate It. Without Ferny Hollow going past him, Appreciate It has put in a really impressive performance to my eye. He is defintiely not a quick horse though, looks to have a long galloping stride and I'll be interested in him next season for sure. I see he's 20/1 fav for the Albert Bartlett which does make sense. They're both shorter for the Supreme, which makes sense for Ferny Hollow. Perhaps I'm being a little dismissive of the speed that Appreciate It has, as it's only one horse who looked faster than him... Feasibly he could end up anywhere though so not a bet at this stage at all.

Ferny Hollow wouldn't be a bet for me either yet, but both clearly interesting.



Gordon had the 3th and 5th, with Willie having 1st and 2nd. Queens Brook and Eskylane will both be on my shortlists. Queens Brook in particular for the Mares Novice Hurdle, although already 12/1 so not missed at all in that market.

Third Time Lucki did well for Skelton, staying on well towards the finish. I reckon I'll end up backing Third Time Lucky for a festival handicap hurdle two years from now... he'll be beaten next year in one of the novice hurdles then come back and make it Third Time Lucki ;) - County Hurdle 2022 winner. Boom.:highly_amused:
 
The thing I like about Ferny the most is that he won nicely, yet still didn't settle in his race.

He has a tonne of ability and if he can learn to race efficiently he'll be some racehorse.
 
Faugheen_Machine said:
The thing I like about Ferny the most is that he won nicely, yet still didn't settle in his race.

He has a tonne of ability and if he can learn to race efficiently he'll be some racehorse.
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Willie said recently he thinks hurdles will help Ferny settle.
 
Faugheen_Machine said:
The thing I like about Ferny the most is that he won nicely, yet still didn't settle in his race.

He has a tonne of ability and if he can learn to race efficiently he'll be some racehorse.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's good up to a point until he doesn't learn

Priceiskey said:
Willie said recently he thinks hurdles will help Ferny settle.
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so lets hope that's true...
 
I've got big doubts about this years Bumper being a breeding ground for 2021 Festival Hurdles winners, with the likes of Ballyadam, Uhtred, Bob Olinger, Flinter Sacre to name just a few, of many, that could make up into decent opposition next season.
 
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Saxon Warrior said:
I've got big doubts about this years Bumper being a breeding ground for 2021 Festival Hurdles winners, with the likes of Ballyadam, Uhtred, Bob Olinger, Flinter Sacre to name just a few, of many, that could make up into decent opposition next season.
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Yeah, I'd be inclined to lean that way myself.

I think because we didn't get to see some of the Spring bumpers after Cheltenham too, even more focus will be put on what we did see... and that'll lead to some over bet and over hyped horses.




Time will tell though, it's certainly not a negative to have performed well at Cheltenham.
 
HdB has had only 7 Bumper winners from 134 runners in the last 5 Irish seasons, so Patrick Mullins win on Bob Olinger delivering a 135 RPR on debut is both interesting and impressive.

On ratings probably the best bumper debut of the season, and already on the tail of Appreciate It and Ferny Hollow's Festival Bumper performances.
 
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