Rule The World ran out a facile winner of the Slaney Novice Hurdle at Naas as Champagne Fever suffered a surprise reverse.
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Ruby Walsh never seemed happy aboard the 1/4 favourite and he went out very quickly after leading Minsk (5/1) until the turn for home.
However, in behind Davy Russell hadn't moved a muscle aboard the 7/1 winner who was still hard on the bridle when going to the front between the last two flights of hurdles and he was never asked anything resembling a serious question to stretch 16 lengths clear of the runner-up.
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Champagne Fever clearly didn't give his running, finishing a tired and remote fourth. He was later reported to be suffering from a respiratory tract infection.
Sky Bet cut the winner to 10/1 (from 25s) for the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Winning trainer Mouse Morris said: "It's easy to be a good judge when you have a machine like that.
"He's a nice horse and we'll have to talk to the owners to see where we go - he's still a big raw horse. Davy gave him a super ride and he jumped super. We'll take it handy with him."
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