Fever back with something to prove

Champagne Fever bids to get his season back on track in the Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown today.

Last season’s star bumper horse having landed the championship events at both the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals, the six-year-old made a smart debut over obstacles at Cork in mid-November.

The grey was far from disgraced when second to leading novice Jezki in the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse next time, but then ran deplorably when long odds-on for a Grade Two contest at Naas a month ago.