CHAMPAGNE FEVER is set to lead a typically strong Willie Mullins team into the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham next month as the all-conquering trainer targets a remarkable seventh success in the race.

Mullins has exerted a stranglehold on the big festival prize with star names such Florida Pearl (1997) over the years and his plans usually dominate the build up to the Grade One contest.

This time the champion trainer has up to four possibles for the race and Champagne Fever is currently disputing 8 to 1 favouritism with Moscow Mannon after having won impressively at Fairyhouse on his last start.

“I would be keen for him to go to Cheltenham and that’s what I’m working towards. He seems to be in good form,” Mullins said yesterday.

The Paparrazi Kid is currently twice Champagne Fever’s ante-post odds but remains a possible starter while Mozoltov could also travel despite having been well beaten by Clonbanan Lad at Naas.

“I think he might have blown up that day. He looked to need it and I think there is improvement in him,” said Mullins who also has the option of running Morning Royalty at Cheltenham.

Mozoltov could run into Clonbanan Lad again at Cheltenham as trainer Mikey O’Connor is targeting the big festival race too.

“I genuinely thought he wouldn’t get beat, but Willie said before the race his (Mozoltov) was the best bumper horse he had this year and he was going to Cheltenham with him, so that put me off a little bit,” the Co Cork-based trainer said yesterday.

“He’ll probably go to Cheltenham now, though the only thing we have in the back of our heads is that he’s so good in soft ground. There’s no reason he won’t handle good ground but if it was quicker then he wouldn’t run.

“There’d be no point in risking him when we don’t have to. The main aim would be the year after, over hurdles. We don’t exactly know how good he is and there are other meetings over here he could run in if the ground was suitable.”

Clonbanan Lad is currently a 20 to 1 shot in ante-post betting.

Hurricane Fly is set to step up his preparations for the Champion Hurdle and is giving connections every satisfaction since his devastating Irish Champion Hurdle victory three weeks ago.

“He’s in good form,” Willie Mullins said. “We haven’t started serious work yet but everything is going according to plan.”