The racing and equestrian world is in mourning following the death of the popular dual Cheltenham Festival winner, Champagne Fever. The grey gelding, trained by the legendary Willie Mullins, was 18 years old.
A Stellar Racing Career Under Willie Mullins
Owned by Susannah and Rich Ricci, Champagne Fever burst onto the scene with a thrilling victory in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the 2012 Cheltenham Festival. He confirmed his talent by following up at Punchestown that same season.
Switched to hurdles, he proved equally adept, securing three wins from six starts. His crowning moment came at the 2013 Festival when he landed the prestigious Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, beating high-class rivals My Tent Or Yours and Jezki.
He transitioned to fences with great promise, finishing a close second in the 2014 Arkle Trophy. Champagne Fever was heavily fancied for the 2015 Queen Mother Champion Chase but was tragically ruled out as a late non-runner after being bitten by a stablemate while travelling from Ireland.
His final race was a winning one at Thurles in November 2016. He retired with an impressive record of ten wins from 21 starts, amassing career earnings of £345,955 for his connections.
A Cherished Second Career in Eventing
After his retirement from racing, Champagne Fever was retrained for a second career in eventing with Harriet Colderick in Sussex. He became a beloved member of her yard and a regular, charismatic participant in the Retraining of Racehorses parade at the Cheltenham Festival each March.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Colderick announced the sad news of his passing on 23rd December 2025, describing it as "another horrible turn of events" following the loss of two other horses from her team this year.
"Fever was a 'legend' in all aspects of the word," she wrote. Colderick detailed his successful retraining, where he competed at grassroots level in eventing and dressage, often ridden by Georgia Marsland, and enjoyed gallops on Ashdown Forest.
A Horse with Heart and a Festival Legacy
Champagne Fever was renowned for his genuine character and immense talent. Colderick recalled his excitement during the Cheltenham parade, where he clearly remembered the roar of the crowd from his glory days.
"He had the heart and the brain and gave his absolute all to anything asked of him," she said. "No matter what path Fevers life would have taken him, he would have been top class."
His death marks the loss of a true champion who successfully transitioned from the highest level of National Hunt racing to a much-loved second career, leaving a lasting impression on all who knew him.
