Who will be crowned the bumper king? Facile Vega and American Mike face off

Wednesday: 5.30 CheltenhamWeatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1) | 2m½f | 4-6yo | RTV

Has there ever been a more exciting edition of the bumper? I'll answer that question for you with a firm 'no' because here we have the two brightest prospects in training squaring up.

In the red corner and unbeaten in both starts we have Facile Vega, the second foal of six-time Cheltenham Festival winner Quevega and he will represent the same trainer, Willie Mullins.

In the blue corner and unbeaten in two bumpers we have American Mike. He doesn't descend from greatness like his big rival, but he's looked just as good and is trained by Gordon Elliott.

There has been fighting talk from both riders too. Patrick Mullins said about Facile Vega’s Leopardstown win: "That was pretty wow. He's a bit special I'd say." And Jamie Codd said: "He's [American Mike] certainly not going to Cheltenham to follow Facile Vega around, that's for sure. If American Mike brings his A-game they will have to go some to get by him."

Who needs Eddie Hearn when you've got Mullins and Codd to do the promoting? In truth, it's a match that doesn't need any promotion, so who will come out on top in the big duel?

Facile Vega is rated 3lb higher than American Mike on Racing Post Ratings, but Topspeed has American Mike clear by fully a stone. It has all the hallmarks that define a classic fight.

Not according to the market, though. Facile Vega has been favoured since his Dublin Racing Festival victory. Is that due to the pedigree factor? Bookmakers are expecting a flood of money from punters wanting to back Facile Vega because his mum was Quevega, so it will be interesting to see if a gamble materialises.

Both look stylists rather than brawlers and I'm not expecting a slugfest, so let's hope for a good clean fight from which both emerge with reputations intact and the world at their feet.

Is it just a duel, though? Collateral form suggests not because Redemption Day beat Music Drive at Leopardstown over Christmas and Music Drive went on to win at Naas next time, beating Sandor Clegane, who had previously finished second to Facile Vega at Leopardstown.

It may not be wise to take that literally as Facile Vega won by a long way, but Redemption Day did it on the bridle too and it's not impossible that he could throw his hat into the ring.

So get comfortable and find a ringside seat because this is one of the best races of the week.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

More Mullins domination?

The apple has not fallen far from the tree with Facile Vega and the son of six-time festival winner Quevega arrives with a big reputation.

The five-year-old has won his two starts by a combined 18 lengths, including when winning a Grade 2 at Leopardstown at 8-11 last time.

He heads a seven-strong team for Willie Mullins, who bids for a record-extending 12th win in this race and his third victory in a row after striking with Ferny Hollow and this season's Ballymore favourite Sir Gerhard.

Sir Gerhard: winner of last year's bumper for Willie MullinsCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Mullins has not won the Champion Bumper with his first string since 2005 and Facile Vega is joined in the line-up by fancied stablemates Redemption Day, who scored at Leopardstown last time, and James's Gate, a comfortable eight-length winner at Punchestown last month.

Houlanbatordechais, Madmansgame and Seabank Bistro also arrive unbeaten for Mullins, with a combined five victories between them.

Mullins said: "Facile Vega has appeared twice on the track and was hugely impressive last time. I think he has every chance.

"James's Gate was very impressive at Punchestown and is also good in his homework. Madmansgame is another one who did it very well at Navan. The rain would suit Madmansgame – he's a staying type.

"Redemption Day catches everyone's eye – he has a lot of speed. He missed his run at the Dublin Racing Festival but the sort of speed he shows at home means he's going to be a big player.

"Viva Devito was very impressive winning down at Tramore. It's going to be a tough ask with his style of racing but he has a great gallop and covers an awful lot of ground, and he's not without a chance.

"Houlanbatordechais won twice in France and is more of a Flat/hurdle horse than a chasing type. He works well enough at home and he takes his chance – if the rain doesn't come it might suit him as I think he's more of a good-ground horse.

"Seabank Bistro won well at Naas and has every chance. He's a fine, big horse and every time he works he catches the eye as well."

"Facile Vega's caught the eye at home all season," said his rider Patrick Mullins. "He has a fantastic pedigree and he's been explosive. He's travelled over well. It's a big field, but he's very exciting and with the Quevega connection, it would obviously be very special if he wins."

'He'll be fighting it out at the finish'

Irish trainers have won 22 of the 29 runnings of this race and the market suggests Gordon Elliott leads the opposition to Mullins with American Mike, an odds-on favourite on his two starts this season.

After winning his point-to-point by 20 lengths, American Mike won on his rules debut at Down Royal before landing a Listed bumper at Navan, scoring by 17 lengths from Battling Bessie under Jamie Codd.

Elliott will also be represented by Music Drive, who was second to Redemption Day on his penultimate start before winning at Naas. He will be partnered by Davy Russell, who has yet to win the Grade 1.

"It's one hell of a bumper," said Elliott. "American Mike has done nothing wrong and looked very impressive to me on both his starts.

"I would like to think he'll be fighting it out at the finish. Music Drive showed a good attitude last time to beat a good horse and looks like he has an each-way shout."

What they say

Gary Moore, trainer of Authorised Speed
He'd appreciate rain. If he got soft ground I think he'd have a reasonable chance.

Paul Nolan, trainer of Joyeux Machin
We think he's improved and the ground won't be an issue, so we think he'll run well but it's a hot race. There are a lot of high-profile horses coming into it so if we run into a place, I'll be delighted.

Paul Hennessy, trainer of Ocean Of Mercy
The better the ground, the more it will suit him. That's why he hasn't run at home during the winter. He ran very well at Navan and then when he ran here in October. He's in good form so we'll have a go.

Our Jester: scored at Lingfield for Hughie MorrisonCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Hughie Morrison, trainer of Our Jester
They went no gallop at Lingfield last time and, being a big horse, you wouldn't have thought he would be the one who could quicken up. I think he's entitled to run and someone has got to have a go [against the Irish]. I'd be a bit worried if it got really soft but we'll have a go.

Emma Lavelle, trainer of Top Dog
He's in really good order. He's run well this season and has form at the track. He has a tendency to drift left at the end of his races but the rail on the run-in should help him. It's going to be a difficult ask as the Irish have made it their own but he deserves to be there.

Reporting by Jonathan Harding

Wednesday's Cheltenham Festival previews:

1.30 Cheltenham: 'It is ours to lose' – can anything stop the might of Sir Gerhard in Ballymore?

2.10 Cheltenham: star novices Bravemansgame, L'Homme Presse and Ahoy Senor clash in thriller

2.50 Cheltenham: can The Shunter land the Coral Cup after switching back to hurdles?

3.30 Cheltenham: 'This is going to be the biggest test of Shishkin's life' says Nicky Henderson

4.10 Cheltenham: Tiger Roll bids to bow out on a high back where it all began

4.50 Cheltenham: can Andy Dufresne unlock sky-high potential for Gordon Elliott in Grand Annual?

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