Champion Bumper Odds
What is the Champion Bumper?
The Champion Bumper is the only Flat race run during the Cheltenham Festival and is considered the premier National Hunt Flat race in the UK and Ireland. Despite lacking hurdles or fences, it’s a key race for spotting future jumping stars.
It’s open to horses aged four to six that haven't raced over obstacles, and it often features top prospects from Ireland and Britain. For many runners, it’s the first time competing in a large-field environment under Festival conditions.
How to Bet on the Champion Bumper
Futures & Ante Post Betting
Futures, or ante-post betting, allows you to place a wager on the Champion Bumper weeks or even months before the Cheltenham Festival begins.
Early bets often offer bigger prices than those available on race day, particularly for young, unexposed horses who might improve as the season progresses. But bettors should be aware that a horse's Champion Bumper betting odds could lengthen if they have a bad campaign.
Some sportsbooks offer Non-Runner No Bet (NRNB) closer to the Festival, meaning you'll get your stake back if your selection doesn't run. Always check the terms before placing an early bet.
Win
A win bet is a straightforward wager on your selected horse to finish first in the Champion Bumper. If the horse wins, your bet pays out. Any other finishing position results in a loss.
Place
Place bets cover your horse finishing within the designated top positions — often the top 2, 3, or 4, depending on field size and the sportsbook's terms.
In the case of the Champion Bumper odds, bookmakers will often pay out on the first three horses home when it comes to a place bet.
Each-Way
An each-way bet divides your stake in two — one part on the horse to win and one part to place. If the horse wins, both bets pay out.
If it only places, you still receive a return, but at a fraction of the Champion Bumper odds (typically 1/4 or 1/5).
Each-way betting is a common tactic for this race due to its unpredictability.
How to Read Champion Bumper Odds
Champion Bumper betting odds are likely to be presented in one of three formats, depending on where bettors live. Most sportsbooks let you switch between the different horse racing odds - fractional, decimal, and American, all of which show the same potential return in different ways.
Popular in the UK and Ireland, fractional odds like 5/1 mean you win 5 units for every 1 staked. So if you staked £10 on a horse at Champion Bumper odds of 5/1 and it won, the bet would return £60 (£50 profit + £10 stake).
Champion Bumper Facts
- Run over 2 miles and 1/2 furlong on Cheltenham’s Old Course
- Open to four, five, and six-year-olds who haven’t yet run in a hurdle or chase
- Usually contested by 20+ runners.
- Introduced in 1992, the race is officially registered as the Weatherbys Champion Bumper.
- Irish-trained horses have dominated in recent years, with Willie Mullins holding the record for most wins
- Known for identifying future stars with past winners including Cue Card, Envoi Allen, and Facile Vega
Tips and Pointers for Betting on the Champion Bumper
The Champion Bumper is unlike any other race at the Festival. With no obstacles and many lightly raced contenders, it poses a unique challenge for bettors. Here are three betting points to consider when studying the Champion Bumper odds:
- Follow the Irish runners: Irish trainers, especially Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott, target this race with their most promising bumper horses. Irish horses have won 26 out of 33 Champion Bumper races, with Mullins training 14 of those winners.
- Focus on form, but not just wins: Horses that placed in strong Irish bumpers or won impressively on soft ground earlier in the season often run well at Cheltenham, even if they don’t have flashy unbeaten records.
- Age isn't just a number: This race has been dominated by five-year-olds since being added to the Cheltenham slate. Horses of that age have won 22 out of 33 races, while six-year-olds have achieved eight wins.
Comparing Champion Bumper Odds
Odds for the Champion Bumper can shift quickly, especially in the final 24–48 hours as betting interest ramps up.
Prices often vary across sportsbooks, so make sure to check out Gambling.com to find the best value on each horse. Monitoring price changes and taking advantage of enhanced offers or boosted odds can help maximise your return in one of the Festival’s most unpredictable races.
Our odds comparison tool updates in real-time, helping punters maximise value across win, each-way, and NRNB markets.
Stay tuned to this page for updated prices and exclusive Cheltenham betting offers.
