After a game run at the Cheltenham Festival, Bass Hunter is to be aimed at Aintree by trainer Chris Gordon.
Bass Hunter went into the Champion Bumper as the leading British hope in a race dominated by the Irish. More specifically, the race has been dominated by Willie Mullins in recent seasons. He has won the race on 14 occasions, although 2026 was not one of those.
However, the race did still go to Irish raider The Mourne Rambler for Noel Meade. Nevertheless, Bass Hunter, along with second-placed Mets Ta Ceinture, ensured a much better performance overall by the Brits.
A Listed winner in tearaways tyle at Ascot previously, Gordon has always rated Bass Hunter highly. Before he races over obstacles next season, there could still be more to come this campaign.
“I was very proud of the horse” – Gordon
The manner of Bass Hunter’s effort in third was unlike what he had been able to show previously. Leading from the start, as has been his way, he stayed on once headed to finish in the money.
That element of his performance was something Gordon was immensely satisfied with.
“I’m really pleased with how he ran,” he said to the Press Association, via Racing TV. “I thought what was great, too, I thought he was going to get swallowed up in the straight and he sort of scrapped back really. I thought he looked really gutsy in the last furlong in the way he was coming back.
“He finished very strongly. I was very proud of the horse. He took the race very, very well, he’s bounced out of it extremely well and we’ll be looking at Aintree.”
Aintree’s Grade 2 bumper occurs during the Grand National meeting. There is no doubt Bass Hunter will have his backers after a game Cheltenham display.
Though that prize will be ready compensation for his near miss at Cheltenham, it is his hurdling campaign which connections will be most excited about. Gordon is already mapping his route to the start of 2026/27.
“That (Aintree) will then be it for the season and then we’ll do plenty of schooling with him after before we put him out to grass.
“It’ll be a hurdling campaign next season, you bet. We’ll see how it goes when he comes back. Everyone can see he’s got plenty of pace, but for now until he settles a bit we’ll be looking at two miles and take it from there.”