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Hi All
I’m trying to find out more about 3yo only bumpers as I had this idea that a speedy flat bred sort might be able to mop up a couple of these races before going juvenile hurdling. Has anyone a view on these contests (other than their rarity) in terms of the quality of horses that tend to contest them?
They are run over short of two miles and are usually contested by more ‘speedily’ bred horses and often targeted by crossover trainers such as Hughie Morrison.
As such they are closer to actual Flat racing and for betting purposes I tend to avoid them. Given the kind of horses they attract they are not a particularly useful a guide to future jump racing compared to traditional bumpers. I suspect that those who show some promise might just as well be switched to the Flat as go jumping.
Fortunately, there are not that many but I could happily live without any of them.
Thanks, Stilvi. Would you describe them as competitive, though?
That’s a difficult one to answer as I tend to avoid them for betting purposes. If someone has the actual stats to hand they could probably give you a better answer. Field sizes can vary in the same way as 2m+ bumpers. You might get a reasonable turnout for those run at the better tracks but others run on extremes of ground don’t appear to be particularly well supported. I don’t think in general they are a significant starting point for quality National Hunt performers.
Mostly uncompetitive I’d say, as repeat winners are more common than in all aged bumpers. But even the multiple winners struggle when thrown into the championship races at Cheltenham and Aintree.
As for the type of horse that wins them, out and out flat breeding doesn’t seem to do that well and the best route might be to opt for a French bred. One of the most successful recent junior bumper winners is Vieux Lion Rouge, bought by the Pipes as an unraced 3-y-old AQPS horse at Deauville July Sales.
Is the idea to buy something fairly cheaply, win a junior bumper and then sell it on for a profit at one of those Cheltenham raceday sales that seem to attract the type of buyer with more money than sense.
Is the idea to buy something fairly cheaply, win a junior bumper and then sell it on for a profit at one of those Cheltenham raceday sales that seem to attract the type of buyer with more money than sense.
We have one eligible for the £50,000 Newbury bumper so the plan was to win a 3yo bumper and then sell on. The only problem is she’s by Avonbridge so we might have overcooked the speedily bred bit slightly
Well there is a fillies only junior bumper at Newbury just before Xmas, and that’s only 1m 4f, so there’s still a chance.
But you’re right, Avonbridge as a sire does tend to suggest a 6F AW maiden might be more suitable! As his sire stats for the flat show – 114 winners at 5F – 6F, 4 winners at 12F or further.
She certainly looked completely out of place in the NH stores section of the Doncaster Spring Sale.
As a general point would you say there is any difference at all in staying 1m4f in a standard flat race and staying 1m4f in a bumper? I’m assuming that in general the softer winter ground would tend to make it more of a test but I didn’t know whether the tendency for bumpers to be slowly run might favour speed over stamina.
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