Jumpers Bumpers: What are they?

Today sees Wolverhampton host a ‘Jumpers' Bumpers’ card, two days after Newcastle became the first to stage one since the 5th of March 2018, where Kempton stepped in to help the National Hunt game. But what exactly is a Jumpers' Bumper...?

During prolonged periods of bad weather, of which we have witnessed our fair share thanks to the likes of Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis, courses with All-Weather facilities step forward to provide National Hunt horses with an opportunity to race. These races do not feature jumps or hurdles, but are open to all National Hunt horses; be that novice hurdlers or seasoned chasers.

Since the 9th of February, we have seen 16 Jumps meetings in the UK and Ireland fall foul to the elements - with one All-Weather card at Southwell also having to wave the white flag. Presuming there is an average of seven races per-card, and using the latest BHA statistics of average horses per race - which is 8.48 - then there is a potential of 949.76 horses that have missed out on a run in the last 11 days. These horses have to be catered for, so stepforward Jumpers' Bumpers!

They’re not just cards filled with low grade handicappers either, a Jumpers' Bumpers card that Kempton hosted back in 2014 saw two-time Grade 1 winner and three-time Champion Hurdle runner-up My Tent Or Yours prepare for the Festival with a four-and-a-half-length success under AP McCoy. 

Newcastle's card on Saturday didn’t quite have that same level of quality, although the 13:35 saw two-time Grade 2 winner On The Blind Side win impressively on his his tapeta debut, and Brian Ellison’s Snookered was an eye-catching winner of the 13:00.

But it's Wolverhampton's time to take centre stage today, before we wave goodbye to Dennis and can get back to focusing on the small matter of The Cheltenham Festival...