Champagne has a big fan in Ruby Ruby Walsh is excited at the prospect of riding Champagne Fever in the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day. The top Irish jump jockey is a big fan of the dual Cheltenham Festival winner, who made all the running on his debut over fences when easily beating Corbally Ghost by four lengths at Punchestown last month. Walsh predicts fireworks from the Willie Mullins-trained grey when he goes for a fifth Grade One success in the two-mile-one-furlong contest. "He's a good jumper and he's an athletic horse who likes to bowl along and get on with his business," Walsh told Racing UK. "Defy Logic is also a front runner in that race over Christmas, so I'm sure there will be no hiding place for those behind us. I really like Champagne Fever. I think he's a very good horse. "I think he has the pace to win at two (miles), like all good horses, but I wouldn't be worried about him getting four if he had to. "Good horses have to have pace, staying horses have to have pace."
