Ballycasey steps in as Fever ruled out Champagne Fever was ruled out of the Dr PJ Moriarty Novice Chase at Leopardstown on Sunday after trainer Willie Mullins was not totally happy with him on Friday morning. The grey had been expected to play a leading role in the Grade One over two miles and five furlongs ahead of next month's Cheltenham Festival, where he is ante-post favourite for the Racing Post Arkle Trophy. The seven-year-old, already a dual winner at the Cheltenham Festival, also holds entries there in the RSA Chase and JLT Novices' Chase. Champagne Fever pleased connections when schooling after racing at Punchestown last Sunday and Mullins is not concerned about the seven-year-old in the long term. Mullins runs Ballycasey in the Moriarty, for which there were just three horses declared. "I decided to run Ballycasey instead. Champagne Fever is just not right this weekend, but he's fine. You just saw him schooling and galloping last week. He'll be all right," said the County Carlow handler. Ballycasey is also in the ownership of Susanna and Rich Ricci, and has the same engagements as Champagne Fever at Cheltenham as well as in the National Hunt Chase. He won his only start so far over fences at Navan in November, but has not been since. "He had a setback, but he's back all right now. He jumped well on Sunday at Punchestown. I'm happy with him so he takes his chance," said Mullins. "We think our fella is in good form at home so hopefully he'll be able to show his best. He will have to improve on his best actually to win this race on Sunday, but he might do that." He will be taken on at Leopardstown by the Gordon Elliott-trained Don Cossack and John Kiely's Carlingford Lough. The pair clashed in the Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse in early December when Carlingford Lough came out on top by a length and three-quarters.
