Jezki has Champagne Fever beaten at Punchestown© Photo Healy Racing
Jezki (3rd year in a row his owner J P McManus has won this event) was expected by many good judges to overturn Cheltenham form with Champagne Fever and he did so in style when sluicing home in the Grade 1 Herald Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.
Barry Geraghty 's mount was galloping all over his rivals from before the straight.
Once Geraghty let the Milan gelding go about his business from before the final hurdle, he soon opened up a lot of daylight to account for Ted Veale by sixteen lengths.
Champagne Fever didn't jump well in front and he faded to finish three parts of a length back in third. Rule The World (reportedly suffered a fractured pelvis), third in the market, unfortunately had to pull up early.
Geraghty remarked: "He was very good – he has been all season and he ran a good race in Cheltenham.
"Robbie (Power) didn’t do anything wrong on him (when 3rd in the Supreme Novices'). On the day he probably wasn't 100 percent.
"I'd say he was more impressive at Christmas (at Leopardstown) when he won, than he was for me in the Royal Bond.
"He had two great wins before that at Naas on atrocious ground which he doesn't really want, and he would have been short of fitness, but he definitely has the engine."
Winning trainer Jessica Harrington meanwhile, was understandably delighted, saying: "He was unbelievable – he did it great.
"Even though they went a serious gallop I thought passing the stands that he wasn't settling.
"He made a mistake then at the second and settled after that.
"I was delighted with the gallop they went. I don't know what the time was but they went a serious gallop and it suited him.
"Maybe the travelling or the hill did for him at Cheltenham. I don't know.
"He jumped well there, except for the last two. Today, except for the second, he was brilliant.
"He just accelerated past them.
"I thought he was 100 percent going to Cheltenham. Maybe he didn't like the cold – the sun shone today which helped.
"He's only done one piece of work since Cheltenham – he's done very little.
"He had a jump yesterday morning – his first since Cheltenham.
"I'd imagine he'll stay over two miles and over hurdles – he's only a five-year-old (as short as 6/1 now for the Champion Hurdle).
"I haven't spoken to J P - I'll go with the flow – he's a wonderful horse to train.
"The mare (the dam) is an amazing mare. She's bred multiple Grade 1 winners."
Willie Mullins' view of Champagne Fever's performance was - "He didn't seem to jump as fluently. He missed three or four down the back.
"Ruby thought he was going fast enough but he just didn't fire on the day and I'm disappointed.
"I've no other excuse – I thought he was in good form coming here." (GC & EM)
