Cheltenham Festival News: Milton Harris has double threat in Champion Bumper
Harris mulling options for Cheltenham victor Mullenbeg
Resurgent trainer Milton Harris has a pair of talented mares that could go for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham on March 16.
Milton Harris is pondering double-teaming the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival with mares Mullenbeg and Rosy Redrum .
Mullenbeg is as short as 12-1 for the two-mile test of racing newbies in which the Willie Mullins-trained Facile Vega is odds-on with most firms.
Harris' five-year-old is unbeaten in two bumpers and scored a decisive success in a Listed mares' event at Cheltenham last month.
Yet the Warminster trainer could have two runners in the final race on March 16, as Rosy Redrum showed enough at Newbury on Saturday to merit "serious consideration".
Though beaten a length and a half by the Emma Lavelle-trained Top Dog in a competitive Listed event, Harris could send the four-year-old into battle at Cheltenham.
He said: "I think she is better than Mullenbeg - well, I know she is. She is fine and has taken the race well.
"I don't know how she didn't win. I think through a little inexperience, they just got away from Mitch Bastyan a little bit, but she finished off really nicely.
"She gets all the allowances and I think the Cheltenham Bumper might not be as competitive. Will Willie run six this year, or will he run two?
"I'd get 17lb off Facile Vega if he ran. It is a lot of weight and she is a good filly. If she was on the Flat, she'd be Listed class.
"Anyway, we are pondering it, giving it serious consideration.
"There is a mares' bumper at Sandown the week before Cheltenham, but the ground might not be ideal and Aintree is a long way off.
"So, we are pondering the Festival bumper for both of them and Mullenbeg may go to Sandown the Saturday before, but the ground will have a bearing."
