Champagne Fever wins at Cheltenham

As db predicted, Champagne Fever has won the first race at this year’s Cheltenham Festival.

Champagne Fever storms to victory at Cheltenham yesterday. Credit: Getty Images

The Irish trained gelding beat hot favourite My Tent Or Yours in the William Hill Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in the festival’s opening race yesterday.

Champagne Fever (5-1) fended off My Tent Or Yours up the hill and battled on gamely under jockey Ruby Walsh to hold off Tony McCoy by half a length.

Jezki (5-1) was third, a further two and a quarter lengths away, as the big meeting finally got going after a 35-minute delay caused by the freezing weather.

“He jumped like a stag and travelled really well. It’s magic – he just came alive the last fortnight,” said Walsh.

Trained by Willie Mullins, Champagne Fever races again at 2.05pm today and on Friday.

The horse has now won six of his nine races, never finishing out of the first three.