33 horses have been entered for the Grade 1 Champion Bumper, the only flat race run at the Cheltenham Festival. There will be a repeat name in the race from last year too, as the 2024 favourite and third-placed Jalon D’oudairies returns having had an interrupted preparation this campaign, ensuring he has not made his debut yet over hurdles.
He is trained by Gordon Elliott, but this race has been the domain of Willie Mullins, a 13-time winning trainer of the race. He is responsible for ante-post favourite Gameofinches among eight in all; that number also includes recent Dublin Racing Festival winner Bambino Fever, the strongly-fancied Copacabana and recent JP McManus purchase Aqua Power.
Jalon d’Oudairies is one of five entries in the colours of Gigginstown House Stud, all in the care of Elliott. Kalypso’chance, He Can’t Dance, Koktail Brut and Kovanis are further entries for that combination, with further significant Irish interest coming via Champagne Jury for Gavin Cromwell.
Among the British hopefuls, the clear leader of the pack is David Pipe’s Windbeneathmywings, a hugely taking winner in a Listed race at Ascot in December. The five-year-old has not been seen since but brings a solid reputation into the race, while No Drama This End and Dalston Lad are unbeaten potential participants for Paul Nicholls and Dan Skelton respectively.
Champion Bumper Entries 2025
| Number | Horse | Trainer |
| 1 | Bespoke Tailor | Oliver Signy |
| 2 | Casterly Rock | Paul Collins |
| 3 | Champagne Jury | Gavin Cromwell |
| 4 | Copacabana | Willie Mullins |
| 5 | Dalston Lad | Dan Skelton |
| 6 | El Cairos | Gary & Josh Moore |
| 7 | Fortune De Mer | Dan Skelton |
| 8 | Gameofinches | Willie Mullins |
| 9 | Green Splendour | Willie Mullins |
| 10 | Heads Up | John McConnell |
| 11 | He Can’t Dance | Gordon Elliott |
| 12 | Idaho Sun | Harry Fry |
| 13 | I Started A Joke | Charles Byrnes |
| 14 | Jalon D’oudairies | Gordon Elliott |
| 15 | Kaiser Ball | Willie Mullins |
| 16 | Kalypso’chance | Gordon Elliott |
| 17 | Kaylan | Fergal O’Brien |
| 18 | Keops Des Bordes | Dan Skelton |
| 19 | Koktail Brut | Gordon Elliott |
| 20 | Kovanis | Gordon Elliott |
| 21 | Little Watson | Suzy Smith |
| 22 | Mossy Fen Road | Harry Derham |
| 23 | No Drama This End | Paul Nicholls |
| 24 | Shuttle Diplomacy | Thomas Cooper |
| 25 | Sortudo | Willie Mullins |
| 26 | Windbeneathmywings | David Pipe |
| 27 | Aqua Force | Willie Mullins |
| 28 | Bambino Fever | Willie Mullins |
| 29 | Future Prospect | Willie Mullins |
| 30 | Highland Haven | Fergal O’Brien |
| 31 | Caballero Cliff | Robert Stephens |
| 32 | Lancelot Allen | Jane Williams |
| 33 | Tradonthebay | Paul John Gilligan |