Willie Mullins’ Champagne Fever made an excellent seasonal debut at Clonmel yesterday when landing the Grade 2 Clonmel Oil Chase with the minimum of fuss.

The starting of races in Ireland, which has long been a bone of contention, reached farcical proportions for the opening Maiden Hurdle at Tramore yesterday.

TADRIAN Maguire’s Mr Warbucks made a fine start over fences when easily beating Whatuthink in the Thurles Beginners Chase yesterday.