Discover the Cheltenham Champion Bumper 2026, the festival’s only flat race, where future jump racing stars showcase their speed on the famous Old Course.
The Champion Bumper is a very popular event that takes place during the Cheltenham Festival (10th -13th March 2026). Standing out as the only flat race of the festival, the Cheltenham Champion Bumper sees horses aged between four and six cover two miles and half a furlong. One of the factors that sets it apart is the lack of hurdles or fences to jump, placing the focus entirely on speed, stamina and raw ability.
Now that we’ve whet your appetite, let’s take a look at the finer details of the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham and how to place a bet with Betway. Alternatively, explore the full festival schedule, or discover our complete guide to Cheltenham.
What is the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham?
The Cheltenham Champion Bumper is an important date for your diary, as the race serves as a launchpad for future National Hunt stars. Due to there being no jumps, it also provides a unique contrast to the week’s steeplechases and hurdle events.
Essentially, it offers racing fans an early glimpse of young, talented horses before they progress to hurdling and chasing careers. However, though it’s very much about speed and racing ability, many winners and standout performers have gone on to achieve great success in other events such as the Ryanair Chase and Stayers’ Hurdle.
The event always proves very exciting, with mounting tension making the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham an unforgettable experience. It truly is a festival highlight and needs to be seen to be believed.
What date is the Champion Bumper?
The Champion Bumper will take place on Wednesday, 11th March. This is Day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival, which is also known as Ladies’ Day.
What time is the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham?
The starting time for the 2026 edition of the Champion Bumper is Wednesday, 11th March at 5:20 pm. This is the final event of Day 2, taking place after the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Steeple Chase Challenge Cup (4:40 pm). As for its length, the Cheltenham Champion Bumper covers two miles and half a furlong, or around 3,298 metres.
Where does the Champion Bumper take place?
The Champion Bumper is set on the Old Course of Cheltenham Racecourse. Notably, the Old Course features sharper turns and a slightly easier finish compared to the New Course. Combined with a lack of obstacles, this makes it the perfect setting for a fast-paced and highly tactical race.
How can you watch the Cheltenham Champion Bumper?
If you’re lucky enough to be attending the Cheltenham Festival in person, you’re all set for an electrifying event. If not, you can watch the Champion Bumper 2026 live on ITV1 on Wednesday 11th March at 5:20pm. Another option is a Racing TV subscription, which will give you full access to the Cheltenham Festival and four thrilling days of world-class horse racing.
The 2026 Champion Bumper horses
The number of horses running in the Cheltenham Champion Bumper 2026 is yet to be confirmed. Typically, the course will have between 20 and 25 horses competing on the day, with many speculated racers likely to withdraw ahead of the event. Here are all the horses who may take part in the Champion Bumper this year:
Bentraghill | Quiryn | The Irish Avatar |
Oh My Word | Bass Hunter | Keep Him Company |
The Mourne Rambler | Wyoming Line | Charismatic Kid |
Katkoriko | Saint Clovis | It’s Only A Game |
Kanzler | Look Me | Love Sign Daunou |
Maximillian Lady | No Walkover | Risky Obsession |
Solly’s Gold | Tinamzel | Hernando De Soto |
Sparkling Wit | Celestial Tune | Cityofblindinlites |
Green Hint | Heldam | Largy Go |
Looking For Eight | Young Rebel | Arcadian Emperor |
Grangeclare Park | Wildes Legacy | Bud Fox |
Minella Machine |
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Who are the favourites for the Champion Bumper?
While our ante-post betting markets are open for the 2026 Champion Bumper, it’s too early to pick any standout favourites from the pack. We’ll update our content with the latest betting odds closer to the event, so remember to return near the Cheltenham Festival to learn more about the front-runners!
Champion Bumper expert tips
Our panel of horse racing experts are on hand to crunch the numbers and analyse past performances, giving you their top betting picks for all the Cheltenham Festival’s biggest events. Make sure to come back once the list of runners has been finalised for their tips.
How to bet on the Champion Bumper
At Betway, we make it easy to bet on the Champion Bumper 2026. Whether you’re a first timer who fancies a flutter or a seasoned follower of the Cheltenham Festival, we have everything you need to back your favourite. You can either place a race win bet on your chosen horse, or take advantage of our 1/5 each way odds, which includes a win bet and a place bet (in this case, if your horse finishes in the top 4 places).
With that in mind, for the latest advice from our experts, explore our complete collection of Cheltenham betting tips , or check out our full range of horse racing antepost odds.
