DUAL Cheltenham Festival winner Champagne Fever really sparkled on his seasonal return in Thursday’s Grade 2 Clonmel Oil Chase to put himself in line for the King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day.

The 8/11 favourite was ridden on this occasion by Paul Townend and he knuckled down to his task to give trainer Willie Mullins and owner Susannah Ricci a decisive victory.