WEATHERBY’S

CHAMPION BUMPER

(GRADE 1)

TWELVE months on from Fayonagh’s amazing success this race witnessed another incredible last to first charge from a mare as Relegate and Katie Walsh led home a tour de force from the Willie Mullins team.

A stretch of five years without a win in this race was the longest barren spell the Mullins has endured in Cheltenham Bumper history but he hit back in remarkable style. He saddled a powerful five-runner team and they delivered in stunning fashion by finishing first, second, third, fifth and seventh.

It wasn’t quite in the order expected though as Relegate was allowed to go off at 25/1 as she looked to build on her victory in a Grade 2 mares’ bumper at Leopardstown last month.

Katie Walsh, who was riding her first festival winner since her double in 2010, settled the Paul McKeon-owned daughter of Flemensfirth at the rear of the field and it wasn’t looking all that promising for the pair as the field began their descent down the hill.

RELENTLESS

Relegate soon began to pick off struggling rivals and she then launched a relentless charge from the turn-in.

At the head of the field the front-running Carefully Selected, whom Katie Walsh sold to Mullins following a point-to-point success, continued to keep his rivals at bay but he was eventually forced to yield to Relegate in the final 100 yards. At the line Relegate had just a neck to spare and there was three and a quarter lengths back to the Fairyhouse winner Tornado Flyer.

“I’ve ridden in this race for Willie a few times and it hasn’t worked out.

“She’s not over big and I knew she wanted a bit of room and I just felt that it if I was in amongst them we’d be carried along so I chanced my arm and it all worked out,” observed the winning rider.

“I was flat out to be honest but the further I was going the better and I knew she would finish well as she stays well.

“When she met the rising ground she took off.”

INJURY

With her brother suffering injury earlier in the day, Katie Walsh added: “I’m torn a bit. I really appreciate days like this but I feel sorry for Ruby. It’s not as bad as it first seems but yes my heart is torn a bit.”

Initial plans were for Relegate to contest a mares’ bumper last weekend said Willie Mullins who was making it nine wins in the race:

“She was due to go to Sandown on Saturday but her owner Paul said that she already has blacktype and why don’t we give this a shot. It’s Paul’s first runner here and this is a mare with a lovely pedigree so it’s fantastic she has won.

All of them ran crackers and I’m delighted with how they have run.”