Willie cools Champagne fever
TRAI NER Wi ll i e Mullins has warned that King George VI Chase contender Champagne Fever has a ‘fair hill to climb’ if he is to win at Kempton on Boxing Day.
The seven-year- old grey is 3-1 with sponsors William Hill and has been pressing Paul Nicholls-trained 2013 winner Silviniaco Conti (5-2) for favouritism.
But while Mullins is confident about the Arkle Trophy runnerup’s stamina on his first try at three miles since his point- to- point debut in 2011, he fears Ruby Walsh’s mount lacks experience.
The trainer conceded he is not approaching the £200,000 contest with the same confidence he had with Florida Pearl when he was second to First Gold i n 2000, 12 months before his King George victory with Best Mate.
Speaking at his Muine Bheag stables, Mullins said: ‘We are biting off a lot going to the King George. Last season, because he won the (2013) Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, we stayed two-mile chasing but the reality is that everything in his pedigree suggests he wants three miles-plus.
‘ I went there with f ar more confidence with Florida Pearl first time because he had done more. We are up against it with Champagne Fever in terms of experience.
‘ This i s not his time of the year, either. He has never won at Christmas. We brought him to the Bumper at Leopardstown thinking how far (he would win) and he was beaten. We came back for his novice chase (last year) and he was third.
‘We are hoping to blow that aside but there is no point me building punters up. We have a fair hill to climb.’
Mullins is confident that unbeaten Faugheen will have the speed for the Christmas Hurdle on the same card but concedes the sharp two miles at Kempton against Nichollstrained Irving will be a test for a gelding who has predominantly raced over further.
He added: ‘He is in good order but it is another big step up for him. We are going into Irving’s home ground — a flat, right-hand track.’
Nicky Henderson’s Sign Of A Vi c t or y l ooks l i ke being a Christmas Hurdle rival as he is set to be steered away from the heavy ground at Ascot on Saturday.
VALUE AT RISK has been cut in the betting for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle and the Neptune Invest ment Novices’ Hurdle after winning by 22 lengths at Newbury on his British debut.