Leopardstown Results: Champagne moment for Mullins

The Willie Mullins-trained Champagne Fever won the Deloitte Novice Hurdle

Champagne Fever, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend, bounced back from a disappointing effort to win the Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown...

Last season's Cheltenham Champion Bumper winner had run a listless race last time out but he was still sent off as favourite to land this Grade 1 prize. 

Champagne Fever didn't disappoint his backers as he brushed aside Bright New Dawn, his only serious challenger, and galloped on strongly to the line. The strongly-fancied Waaheb fell at the second flight when at the rear of the field.

Mullins said: "He's back to himself, which is a huge relief after Naas. We just fiddled around a bit with him since then and we waited until this week to give him two bits of work. He really impressed in those two bits, especially in his work on Tuesday."

Mullins confirmed that the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham is the next target for Champagne Fever.

There was further success for Mullins as Boston Bob got up in the very last stride to win a thrilling race for the Dr. P.J. Moriarty Novice Chase at Leopardstown. Boston Bob looked beaten when he dropped back to fourth after tracking the pace-setting Lyreen Legend but rallied in amazing fashion on the run to the line.

Paul Carberry appeared to have brought Texas Jack with a perfectly-timed run and though he got the better of Lord Windermere and Lyreen Legend, he simply had no answer to the late dash of Paul Townend and Boston Bob.

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