Champagne Fever has been withdrawn from the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival this afternoon.
The Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old had been among the favourites to win the race alongside Sire De Grugy and Sprinter Sacre.
However, having sustained an injury while travelling to Gloucestershire from Ireland, Mullins has decided to take the grey gelding out of the running.
"Champagne Fever got bitten on the lip by another of our horses on the way over to Cheltenham. He was ridden out for the past few mornings on the track, but I wasn't happy with him this morning," he told the Racing Post.
"The small injury he picked up in transit hasn't fully resolved itself and I've decided not to risk him."
Mullins also confirmed that Pylonthepressure has been pulled out of the Champion Bumper.
