held up towards rear, headway on inside 4f out, hung left over 2f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong
mid-division on outside, behind from halfway
chased leaders, ridden 3f out, kept on same pace from 2f out, no impression on leaders inside final furlong
mid-division, headway 5f out, led over 2f out, ran on under pressure inside final furlong
made most until ridden and headed over 2f out, keeping on same pace when not clear run inside final furlong
chased leaders, pushed along over 4f out, weakened 2f out
held up, bumped about after 3 furlongs, struggling before halfway, eased and pulled up over 3f out
held up, headway 4f out, tried to squeeze through on inside but gap closed over 2f out, stayed on same pace after until no extra well inside final furlong
tracked leaders, upsides when hung right from 3f out, not recover
took keen hold in mid-division, headway 4f out, ridden 2f out, no impression inside final furlong
towards rear, ridden over 4f out, never near leaders
held up towards rear, stayed on same pace final 2f, never in contention
mid-division, progress 7f out, ridden 5f out, struggling final 3f
held up, headway over 3f out, keeping on when not clear run and switched left inside final furlong, not much room again, kept on
held up, hung right and ran wide on bend 5f out, no headway
held up towards rear, carried wide on bend 5f out, headway over 3f out, no further progress
never better than mid-division
held up in touch, ridden and weakened 4f out
prominent, ridden 6f out, weakened 5f out
took keen hold, tracked leaders, weakened over 3f out
took keen hold, with leaders, weakened 4f out
in rear, headway on inside halfway, lost place over 6f out, headway 3f out, keeping on when hung left inside final furlong, not trouble winner
held up in touch, ridden halfway, soon struggling
mid-division, outpaced over 4f out, stayed on final 2f. no danger
The Irish domination of this event can continue with Aranleigh leading home the likes of Mad Fish and Cork All Star, with Berings Express and Den Of Iniquity all worth a mention. Irish horses have won eight of the last 10 runnings of the Champion Bumper, with Willie Mullins having been responsible for no less than five of them. The County Carlow trainer sets a poser here by saddling three runners, Cooldine, Fiveforthree and Mad Fish, with the latter partnered by Ruby Walsh. The son of Flemensfirth was turned over though by Aranleigh when the pair met at Fairyhouse in January, and with Tony McCoy booked to ride, we fancy the Tony Mullins inmate to confirm the form. There are of course any number of other possibles, including Cork All Star. Jessica Harrington's charge lines up unbeaten after three outings, but could have perhaps done with a sharpener, having been absent since November. The French raider Berings Express is no back-number either judged on his success at Warwick, also in November, the form of which has been franked by the second and third. He has been well backed ante-post and should go well. Owner Malcolm Denmark won this with Monsignor in 1999 and has a live chance as well with Den Of Iniquity who has done nothing wrong in two starts to date. Then there is the big northern hope Tot O'Whiskey who could be Malcolm Jefferson's best horse since Dato Star. He too lines up unbeaten, and along with the likes of Fiddling Again, Crocodiles Rock and Sergheyev, makes for a fascinating contest. The Mullins family hold the key though, and one of them should be celebrating at least if Aranleigh obliges.
Aranleigh (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Always prominent, led over 3f out, headed approaching straight, rallied to regain lead inside final furlong, stayed on, won at Fairyhouse 2m nhf hvy in Jan beating Mad Fish (11-7) by 5l, 10 ran.
Choumakeur (FR) 6-4fav (11-4) In touch, headway 5f out, led on bit 2f out, easily, won at Plumpton 2m 2f mdn nhf (6) hvy in Feb beating Quintessentially (11-4) by 8l, 10 ran.
Cooldine (IRE) 7-4fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, improved to lead 5f out, joined 2f out, strongly pressed final furlong, led close home, all out, won at Fairyhouse 2m nhf hvy in Feb beating Ballyverane Oscar (11-7) by a nk, 13 ran.
Cork All Star (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Held up, smooth headway on outside from 4f out, led over 1f out, ridden and ran on well inside final furlong, won at Cheltenham 2m nhf lst (1) gs in Nov beating An Accordion (11-0) by 4l, 11 ran.
Crocodiles Rock (IRE) 15-8jt-fav (11-7) Tracked leader, left in lead on bend after 3f, headed 3f out, soon ridden, rallied gamely to lead again final 50 yards, won at Newbury 2m nhf Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb beating Just A Thought (10-7) by 1l, 10 ran.
Den of Iniquity 4-9fav (11-9) Made all, ridden and challenged over 2f out, soon clear, won at Warwick 2m nhf lst (1) hvy in Jan beating Edgbriar (11-5) by 6l, 6 ran.
Enquiring Mind (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Towards rear, headway over 4f out, 3rd into straight, led 1 1/2f out, soon clear, stayed on well, won at Punchestown 2m nhf sft in Nov beating De Valira (11-5) by 4l, 15 ran.
Fiveforthree (IRE) 9-4fav (11-8) Always prominent, led straight, ridden and quickly clear, stayed on strongly, impressive, won at Punchestown 2m nhf hvy in Feb beating I Hear A Symphony (11-8) by 7l, 20 ran.
Lodge Lane (IRE) 9-4 (11-6) Held up in touch, challenged 3f out, led over 1f out, hung left inside final furlong, stayed on, won at Uttoxeter 2m nhf (6) hvy in Jan beating Or d'Oudairies (11-4) by 6l, 8 ran.
Mad Fish (IRE) 4-7fav (11-7) In touch, progress 6f out, led travelling best approaching straight, headed under 1f out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 10, 5l behind Aranleigh (11-7) at Fairyhouse 2m nhf hvy in Jan.
Raven's Run (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Made all, strongly pressed from 4f out, ridden straight, edged clear over 2f out, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Naas 2m nhf sft in Feb beating Mick The Man (11-11) by 8l, 9 ran.
Tot O'Whiskey 4-5fav (11-9) With leader, led after 5f, shaken up over 2f out, stayed on well, won at Catterick 2m nhf (5) gd in Feb beating Dand Nee (11-2) by 9l, 11 ran.
Whatuthink (IRE) 11-8fav (11-3) Rear of mid-division, 5th and headway over 4f out, led 2 1/2f out, soon ridden clear, stayed on strongly, won at Naas 2m 3f nhf hvy in Jan beating Oscar Supreme (11-11) by 19l, 16 ran.
Shirley Casper (IRE) 11-4 (11-2) In touch, headway entering straight, led 2f out, kept on well, all out, won at Navan 2m nhf hvy in Dec beating Mick The Man (11-9) by a shd, 8 ran.
Berings Express (FR) 7-2 (10-12) In touch, ridden to lead over 1f out, edged right inside final furlong, ran on, won at Warwick 1m 6f nhf (6) gd in Nov beating Helens Vision (10-5) by 1 1/2l, 17 ran.
Isn't That Lucky 11-4fav (10-0) Held up mid-division, headway 6f out, chased leader 5f out, led over 1f out, shaken up and quickened, soon clear, comfortably, won at Fontwell 1m 6f nhf (6) gs in Feb beating Cracking Cliche (10-7) by 4l, 12 ran.
Judge Roy Bean (IRE) 6-4fav (11-4) Soon led, drew clear entering straight, stayed on well, impressive, won at Punchestown 2m nhf sft in Feb beating Red Seven (11-2) by 7l, 8 ran.
Just A Thought (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) Track leaders, led 3f out, soon ridden, no extra when headed final 50 yards, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Crocodiles Rock (11-7) at Newbury 2m nhf Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Le Beau Bai (FR) 2-9fav (11-1) Led, quickened after 6f, drew clear from over 2f out, easily, won at Exeter 2m 1f nhf (5) hvy in Feb beating Call Me Sir (10-10) by 20l, 4 ran.
Sergheyev 12-1 (11-0) Prominent, 5th halfway, 2nd 4f out, led travelling well early straight, stayed on well final furlong, comfortably, won at Leopardstown 2m nhf hvy in Jan beating Castlecrossings (10-9) by 2l, 14 ran.
Sir Harry Ormesher 10-1 (10-6) Mid-division, headway 7f out, led over 2f out, ran on well, ridden out, won at Ascot 2m nhf (4) gs in Feb beating Busker Royal (10-9) by 3 1/2l, 11 ran.
Sophocles 5-1 (11-0) Held up, smooth headway into 3rd 3f out, 2nd travelling best straight, led 1f out, quickened clear, impressive, won at Thurles 2m nhf hvy in Feb beating Shuil Dara (10-11) by 8l, 13 ran.
Fiddling Again 6-5fav (11-0) Prominent, chased leader halfway, ridden 4f out, led well over 1f out, ran on, won at Fakenham 2m mrs nhf (4) gs in Feb beating Swaythe (11-6) by 3l, 10 ran.
One Gulp 15-2 (10-5) Held up, headway over 4f out, ridden to lead well over 1f out, ran on well, won at Haydock 2m mrs nhf (6) hvy in Feb beating Castlecrossings (10-0) by 14l, 13 ran.
