Royal Bond at Fever pitch

Leading bumper horse Champagne Fever is one of seven remaining entries in the Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday.

The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old won the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival and the equivalent race at Punchestown in the spring, and scored as he liked on his hurdling debut at Cork earlier this month.

Mullins also has Midnight Oil and Zuzka in the mix for the two-mile Grade One, but the champion trainer is unlikely to have things all his own way.