Mullins considering Champagne switch

Champagne Fever may go novice chasing next season rather than be campaigned over hurdles following his victory in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham.

Trainer Willie Mullins employed the same tactic with Florida Pearl in the past and will consider sending the five-year-old over fences as he believes that is where his future lies.

“He’s very good and has got a huge cruising speed,” the County Carlow-based handler told At The Races.

“He’s got to go novice hurdling next year, but we might think about going novice chasing and skip hurdling. We’ll have to see about that.

“We might do it just to get him chasing. Chasing is his game, so we might get him chasing earlier, maybe.”