Jenny Pitman holds a diamond entry in the Champion Bumper
Published:As the first women to saddle a Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Jenny Pitman knows what it takes to get a horse ready for the Cheltenham Festival.
And while Twentyfourcarat’s preparations were interrupted thanks to an abandoned meeting at Newbury in January, Pitman believes that she and son Mark have a great chance of winning the Wetherby’s Champion Bumper.
Trained by Ian Williams, Twentyfourcarat is 20/1 to win the final race of Wednesday’s Festival action, and with one win from one start, there is plenty to like about the six-year-old.
Timmy Murphy rode Twentyfourcarat to a 3/4–length win over Champion Bumper favourite Ericht (7/1) back in November, and with Ericht going on to win his next two starts, that’s looking strong form for the Pitman’s star.
Traditionally won by Irish-trained horses, Ericht has the advantage in that department, but after Cue Card’s victory last year, Jenny Pitman is hoping to make it successive Bumper wins for Britain.
Son Mark saddled Monsignor to victory in the 1999 Champion Bumper, and having brought the horse from John Costello in Ireland, there’s no doubting the eye for talent that Mark and Jenny have.
A future Neptunes Novices’ Hurdle candidate, Twentyfourcarat’s staying power will be a huge benefit as the field swings into the final straight for the run-in up the Cheltenham hill, and the six-year-old would be a popular winner were he to cross the line first.
With 26 horses priced between 7/1 and 25/1, it’s a very competitive betting market which can hold plenty of value for punters searching for a Cheltenham Festival winner.
At 20/1, Twentyfourcarat is a big price because of his one start but if he is to run to form, that price could potentially be the best value of the Cheltenham Festival.
A £25 stake on Twentyfourcarat winning the Champion Bumper would return £525. New customers can sign up here for a free Cheltenham Festival bet worth £25.
