'I love him' - Jamie Codd raves over Champion Bumper mount

Missing last year's Cheltenham Festival has made Jamie Codd even hungrier for success at the biggest banquet in town and the man who holds the post-war record for amateur wins at the meeting said he wouldn't swap American Mike for any of Willie Mullins' starlets in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper.

Owner Noel Moran of Bective Stud has confirmed to the Racing Post that Codd will keep the ride on American Mike at next month's festival and the crack amateur, chasing his 11th success at the meeting, waxed lyrical about the five-year-old.

Codd said: "It's been mad looking at Willie winning nearly every bumper since Christmas and he looks to have unearthed a few gems. That said, I wouldn't swap American Mike for any of them; I really wouldn't. He's certainly not going to Cheltenham to follow Facile Vega around, that's for sure. If American Mike brings his A-game they will have to go some to get by him.