Champagne delight for Mullins

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.

Paul Townend seemed anxious to restrain him somewhat in the early part of the contest and, as a result, the grey took a fair tug.

His jumping was a little sloppy as well and he certainly wasn’t great at the second. Starting out for the final time, however, Townend allowed him stride on and Champagne Fever led over the sixth last.