Champagne on ice until the autumn Willie Mullins has decided to postpone a chasing career with Champagne Fever until later in the year after side-stepping a possible outing in the two and a half miles beginners chase at Punchestown this afternoon. Concerns that the ground may be too quick at the Co. Kildare track persuaded the champion trainer not to declare his star novice this afternoon. The former winning point-to-pointer was the leading bumper performer last year with victories at both the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals before enjoying a highly successful novice hurdling campaign in the season just gone by. The six-year-old grey son of Stowaway scored twice at Grade 1 level including when adopting his customary front-running tactics in the William Hill Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in March, although he subsequently proved disappointing at the Punchestown Festival. Mullins said, “They were saying all week that it was drying out at Punchestown and they were missing the rain, so we’ve decided to let him off for the summer. “He actually schooled here on this day last year and by god can he jump! He flew around. “Nothing came to light after his last run here. A few of mine were just a bit below par early that week.” Sizing Rio was also taken out of the same beginners chase at Punchestown this afternoon due to lameness, although trainer Henry de Bromhead is not too concerned. The Grade 3 winning novice hurdler could even start his chasing career at Tipperary next Thursday. “He’s just a bit sore and should only be held up for a few days. Hopefully he’ll be okay to run at Tipperary (2m4f beginners chase) on Thursday,” said de Bromhead.
