leader Silviniaco Conti until the last fence but faded in the closing stages to finish fourth of the eight finishers. On his return to Ireland he started odds-on favourite for the Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles, but fell at the last fence when disputing the lead with the eventual winner Don Cossack. In the Red Mills Chase on 14 February, Champagne Fever started 8/15 favourite against four opponents. He took the lead at the ninth of the fourteen fences, opened up a clear advantage, and was eased down by Paul Townend in the closing stages to win by four and a quarter lengths. The gelding was sent to England in March to contest the Queen Mother Champion Chase, but failed to recover from being bitten on the lip by a stablemate on the flight from Ireland and was unable to take part in the race. In April he traveled to Aintree Racecourse for the first time and started joint-favourite for the Melling Chase. He tracked the leaders before moving forward at the fourth last but made a mistake at the next and finished fourth, more than thirty lengths behind the winner Don Cossack. For the third season in succession, Champagne Fever failed to produce his best form at the Punchestown Festival, finishing fifth behind his stablemate Felix Yonger in the Punchestown Champion Chase. 2016/2017 National Hunt season: Steeplechases Champagne Fever did not race in the 2015/16 season. He made his first appearance for 576 days when he ran in the Listed Boomerang Animal Bedding and Boomerang Horse & Country Store Chase over 2 miles and 6 furlongs at Thurles on 24 November 2016. He was sent off 11/8 second favourite in the betting behind Wounder Warrior. Champagne Fever, ridden as usual by Ruby Walsh, won by a head from the 2014 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Lord Windermere. Willie Mullins stated after the race "He always runs well on his first run back and we'll probably look for a similar race over two and a half miles". Pedigree References 2007 racehorse births Racehorses bred in Ireland Racehorses trained in Ireland Cheltenham Festival winners Thoroughbred family 8-a