New Champion Bumper favourite birthed in Love Sign d'Aunou

January 26, 2026

A new Champion Bumper favourite was birthed at Naas on Sunday in the form of Love Sign d’Aunou.

The son of Goliath Du Berlais is now the standout market leader for the Cheltenham Festival’s Wednesday finale, a general 7/1 chance across the board.

There was never a moment’s worry for favourite backers as Patrick Mullins set out to make all and did exactly that in emphatic fashion, coming home alone in a canter by 24 lengths.

The race was won by Jasmin De Vaux back in 2024 before going on to triumph at Cheltenham and Love Sign d’Aunou could not have been more impressive on stable debut.

Patrick told Racing TV in the aftermath: “He might well be (the clubhouse leader in the bumper division). We didn’t expect him to do that, at home he isn’t very flashy hence why I rode him the way I did over 2m2f.

“He’s relentless. He has a high cruising speed and he’s able to keep it up. When I peeked through my legs at the third last I couldn’t believe how strung out they were.

“I’d be very surprised if he didn’t go to Cheltenham!”

In the colours of Rich Ricci, the five-year-old was purchased after winning a point-to-point at Loughanmore last April for Gerald Quinn.

The runner-up that day, Paul Nolan’s Gin Tonic, landed a maiden hurdle at the first time of asking at Wexford in October and later finished second to a nice type in Eric McNamara’s L’Evangeliste at Fairyhouse.

Won by Jasmin De Vaux in 2024, Love Sign d’Aunou establishes himself as a Champion Bumper contender with a smart performance @NaasRacecourse pic.twitter.com/Et4XoDleUo

— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) January 25, 2026

Willie Mullins’ impressive Champion Bumper record set to continue

Willie Mullins is the most successful trainer in Champion Bumper history with 14 wins since 1996, the first being Wither or Which who he rode himself as a jockey.

Closutton has landed five of the last six renewals from 2020, the only exception being John Kiely’s A Dream To Share in 2023.

Mullins trains each of the first four horses in the ante-post market for the race with Bentraghhill and The Irish Avatar close behind the leader at 12/1.

The former is set to run in the Grade 2 Future Stars bumper at the Dublin Racing Festival this weekend after winning at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Also in with a shout is Quiryn, a winner at Naas earlier this month in the colours of the Masterson family and Mullins holds a typically strong hand.