New One and Jezki finished sixth and eighth respectively. After the race, Mullins said that "Champagne Fever has a huge cruising speed and that is where we went wrong with him first time out. Last time we made all and we decided to do the same today". In the following month, Champagne Fever started 11/4 favourite for the Grade I Champion INH Flat Race at the Punchestown Festival. As at Cheltenham, he led throughout the race, and after being challenged on the final turn, he drew away to win by seven and a half lengths from Melodic Rendezvous. Mullin described the winner as "a super horse. He just gallops all day, he obviously stays well, he jumps well so he's one we're really looking forward to. He has huge ability and I have considered going straight over fences with him. We could do what we did with Florida Pearl". 2012/2013 National Hunt season: Novice hurdles In the 2012/2013 National Hunt season Champagne Fever was campaigned in novice hurdle races. He made his debut over obstacles at Cork Racecourse on 18 November and led from the start to win easily by five lengths at odds of 1/8. The gelding was ridden by Ruby Walsh for the first time when he started 11/8 favourite for the Grade I Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse in December. As usual, he attempted to lead from the start but was overtaken at the last hurdle and beaten one and a half lengths by Jezki. In the Grade II Slaney Novice Hurdle at Naas Racecourse in January he started 1/4 favourite but ran poorly and finished third, forty lengths behind the winner Rule The World. Champagne Fever returned to winning form in the Grade I Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown in February. Ridden by Paul Townend, he ran in his customary style, leading throughout the race and winning by one and three quarter lengths from Bright New Dawn at odds of 2/1. The gelding returned to the Cheltenham Festival for the Grade I Supreme Novices' Hurdle on 12 March 2013 and started second favourite alongside Jezki at odds of 5/1 behind the A. P. McCoy-ridden favourite My Tent Or Yours. Ridden by Walsh, he led for most of the race before being overtaken at the final hurdle. He "rallied gamely" to regain the lead on the run-in and won by half a length from My Tent