Punchestown Champion Bumper
Encyclopedia
The Champion INH Flat Race is a Grade 1 National Hunt
flat race
in Ireland
for amateur riders which is open to horses
aged four to seven years. It is run at Punchestown
over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Punchestown Festival in late April or early May.
The event has been sponsored by the bookmaker Paddy Power
since 1999. It was formerly open to horses aged four or older, but an upper age limit of seven was introduced in 2007.
The field usually includes horses which ran previously in the Champion Bumper
at Cheltenham
, and both races were won by Cousin Vinny in 2008. The feat was repeated the following year by Dunguib
, but he was later disqualified from the Irish version after testing positive for a banned substance.
Leading jockey
since 1992 (2 wins):
----
Leading trainer
since 1992 (4 wins):
The 2001 running took place at Leopardstown
.
Dunguib
finished first in 2009, but he was subsequently disqualified after testing positive for a banned substance.
National Hunt racing
National Hunt racing is the official name given to the sport of horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Ireland in which the horses are required to jump over obstacles called hurdles or fences...
flat race
National Hunt flat race
National Hunt Flat races, informally known as Bumper races, are flat races run under National Hunt racing rules in Britain and Ireland....
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
for amateur riders which is open to horses
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
aged four to seven years. It is run at Punchestown
Punchestown Racecourse
Punchestown Racecourse is located in the parish of Eadestown, between the R410 and R411 regional roads near Naas, County Kildare, in Ireland. It is home of the National Hunt Festival of Ireland....
over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Punchestown Festival in late April or early May.
The event has been sponsored by the bookmaker Paddy Power
Paddy Power
Paddy Power is Ireland’s largest bookmaker. Offline it conducts business through a chain of licensed betting offices and by operating Ireland's largest telephone betting service. Online it offers sports betting, online poker, online bingo, online casino games and spread betting...
since 1999. It was formerly open to horses aged four or older, but an upper age limit of seven was introduced in 2007.
The field usually includes horses which ran previously in the Champion Bumper
Champion Bumper
The Champion Bumper is a Grade 1 National Hunt flat race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four to six years. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 110 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in...
at Cheltenham
Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham Racecourse is a racecourse for horse racing events, located at Prestbury Park, in the suburban village of Prestbury on the outskirts of the English town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire...
, and both races were won by Cousin Vinny in 2008. The feat was repeated the following year by Dunguib
Dunguib
Dunguib is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who became the second horse to complete the Cheltenham and Punchestown double in 2009 for trainer Philip Fenton and owners Daniel Harnett and Lily Lawlor...
, but he was later disqualified from the Irish version after testing positive for a banned substance.
Records
Leading jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
since 1992 (2 wins):
- Nina CarberryNina CarberryNina Carberry is an Irish female National Hunt jockey. She hails from a racing family and is the daughter of jockey Tommy Carberry. In 2011 she won the Irish Grand National on Organisedconfusion which was trained by her uncle Arthur Moore and became only the second woman rider to win the race...
– Leading Run (2006), Mick the Man (2007) - Patrick Mullins - Cousin Vinny (2008), Lovethehigherlaw (2011)
----
Leading trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
since 1992 (4 wins):
- Noel MeadeNoel MeadeNoel Meade is a famous horse trainer from Ireland. He established Tu Va Stables in Co. Meath, Ireland as a place to train his horses.Meade began his career as a horse trainer in 1971, but it was not until 1978 that Meade started to become well recognized. Sweet Mint, winner of the Cork and Orrery...
– Tiananmen Square (1992), Geill Sli (2004), Leading Run (2006), Mick the Man (2007)
Winners since 1992
- All amateur jockeys.
Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer 1992 Tiananmen Square 4 Tim Hyde Noel Meade Noel MeadeNoel Meade is a famous horse trainer from Ireland. He established Tu Va Stables in Co. Meath, Ireland as a place to train his horses.Meade began his career as a horse trainer in 1971, but it was not until 1978 that Meade started to become well recognized. Sweet Mint, winner of the Cork and Orrery...1993 Dramatic Touch 5 David Marnane Liam Browne 1994 Aries Girl 5 Eoghan Norris Pat Flynn Patrick J. FlynnPatrick J. Flynn is a successful race horse trainer. Among the winners the he has trained are:Alalja, winner of:*1992 Debutante Stakes Montelado, winner of:*1992 Champion Bumper*1993 Supreme Novices' HurdleSalmon Eile, winner of:...1995 Maringo 6 Tony Martin Willie Mullins Willie MullinsWillie Mullins is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is based at Closutton, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, Ireland...1996 Noble Thyne 6 Tom Mullins Paddy Mullins Paddy MullinsPaddy Mullins was an Irish racehorse trainer in a career which spanned fifty two years.His first winner was Flash Parade, which won the 1953 La Touche at Punchestown...1997 Arctic Camper 5 Robert Thornton Robert Thornton (jockey)Robert "Choc" Thornton is an English National Hunt jockey currently employed as stable jockey to Alan King....David Nicholson David Nicholson (horse racing)David Nicholson was a British National Hunt jockey and trainer. He was British jump racing Champion Trainer in the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons....1998 King's Road 5 Gordon Elliott Gordon Elliott (racehorse trainer)Gordon Elliott is a County Meath-based National Hunt racehorse trainer who was 29 when his first Grand National entry, the 33 to 1 outsider Silver Birch won the 2007 race on 14 April, 2007...Nigel Twiston-Davies Nigel Twiston-DaviesNigel Twiston-Davies is a British racehorse trainer specialising in National Hunt racing. He is based at stables at Naunton, Gloucestershire....1999 Our Bid 8 Philip Carberry Kevin Prendergast 2000 Liss A Paoraigh 5 Paul Crowley John Kiely 2001 Like-a-Butterfly 7 J. T. McNamara Christy Roche Christy RocheChristy Roche is a retired champion Irish flat racing jockey.Over his thirty year career between 1968 and 1998 he won the Budweiser Irish Derby 3 times which he won in 1982, 1992 and 1997. His 1997 victory was on Desert King.-External links:*...2002 Supreme Developer 5 Pat Murphy Tony Mullins 2003 Royal Rosa 4 Aidan Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson Nicky HendersonNicky Henderson is a British racehorse trainer. He has been British jump racing Champion Trainer twice.Henderson, educated at Eton College, has been a trainer since 1978, based at Seven Barrows near Lambourn, Berkshire...2004 Geill Sli 6 Alan Crowe Noel Meade Noel MeadeNoel Meade is a famous horse trainer from Ireland. He established Tu Va Stables in Co. Meath, Ireland as a place to train his horses.Meade began his career as a horse trainer in 1971, but it was not until 1978 that Meade started to become well recognized. Sweet Mint, winner of the Cork and Orrery...2005 Refinement 6 Alan Berry Jonjo O'Neill Jonjo O'NeillJonjo O'Neill is an Irish National Hunt racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is a native of Castletownroche, County Cork in Ireland. Based at the Jackdaws Castle training establishment in England, O'Neill is the private trainer to J. P. McManus, one of the largest owners of steeplechasers and...2006 Leading Run 7 Nina Carberry Nina CarberryNina Carberry is an Irish female National Hunt jockey. She hails from a racing family and is the daughter of jockey Tommy Carberry. In 2011 she won the Irish Grand National on Organisedconfusion which was trained by her uncle Arthur Moore and became only the second woman rider to win the race...Noel Meade Noel MeadeNoel Meade is a famous horse trainer from Ireland. He established Tu Va Stables in Co. Meath, Ireland as a place to train his horses.Meade began his career as a horse trainer in 1971, but it was not until 1978 that Meade started to become well recognized. Sweet Mint, winner of the Cork and Orrery...2007 Mick the Man 6 Nina Carberry Nina CarberryNina Carberry is an Irish female National Hunt jockey. She hails from a racing family and is the daughter of jockey Tommy Carberry. In 2011 she won the Irish Grand National on Organisedconfusion which was trained by her uncle Arthur Moore and became only the second woman rider to win the race...Noel Meade Noel MeadeNoel Meade is a famous horse trainer from Ireland. He established Tu Va Stables in Co. Meath, Ireland as a place to train his horses.Meade began his career as a horse trainer in 1971, but it was not until 1978 that Meade started to become well recognized. Sweet Mint, winner of the Cork and Orrery...2008 Cousin Vinny 5 Patrick Mullins Willie Mullins Willie MullinsWillie Mullins is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is based at Closutton, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, Ireland...2009 Sweeps Hill 5 J. P. Magnier John Kiely 2010 Hidden Universe 4 Robbie McNamara Dermot Weld Dermot WeldDermot K. Weld is one of Ireland's most successful racehorse trainers. He holds the record for the most winners trained in Ireland ....2011 Lovethehigherlaw 5 Patrick Mullins Willie Mullins Willie MullinsWillie Mullins is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is based at Closutton, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, Ireland...
The 2001 running took place at Leopardstown
Leopardstown Racecourse
Leopardstown Racecourse is an Irish horse-racing venue. Like the majority of Irish courses, it hosts both National Hunt and Flat racing. Located in Leopardstown, County Dublin, 8km south of the Dublin city centre. The course was built by Captain George Quin and modeled on Sandown Park Racecourse...
.
Dunguib
Dunguib
Dunguib is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who became the second horse to complete the Cheltenham and Punchestown double in 2009 for trainer Philip Fenton and owners Daniel Harnett and Lily Lawlor...
finished first in 2009, but he was subsequently disqualified after testing positive for a banned substance.