Europe favourite for Champion after win

Jan 28 2008 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

SIZING Europe’s superb performance to win yesterday’s AIG Europe Champion Hurdle has seen him rocket to the head of the ante-post market for Cheltenham.

The six-year-old came through in fine fashion to lead two from home and even Hardy Eustace, last year’s hero of the Grade One Leopardstown feature and twice a winner of the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, could not stop him sauntering to an impressive eight-length victory.

No sooner had Andrew McNamara crossed the winning line than the Henry De Bromhead-trained winner was installed as new favourite to repeat the victory in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at Prestbury Park on March 11.

As low as 9-4 with Coral, Sizing Europe is now a best-priced 3-1 market leader with Ladbrokes for the Champion with last year’s winner Sublimity – who bypassed yesterday’s contest in Ireland – out to 5-1 with the same firm and totesport.

Sizing Europe has already won at Cheltenham, taking the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle in November.

He missed an intended engagement in a race won by Al Eile – who was third yesterday – due to a dirty scope over Christmas. But following yesterday’s win, he will look to follow in the hoofprints of Rooster Booster, who won both the Greatwood and Champion Hurdles in the same season in 2002-03.

Sizing Europe’s trainer De Bromhead was naturally delighted and he said: “That is it guys, it is brilliant and I am speechless.

“To beat those horses the way he did is unreal and this is exciting isn’t it? He was unreal and I am amazed and stunned at how he won.

“He pinged the last. After his fall in Punchestown we have really concentrated on his schooling and it is starting to pay off. I have never had a Champion Hurdle horse before but he has always looked a serious horse.

“He was slow at the first one down the back and I got worried when they started quickening that he may not jump as well, but he just winged hurdles after that and Andrew gave him a terrific ride. The faster they go the better it is for him as he is not a horse with a huge turn of foot and he needs a strong gallop.”

On the Champion Hurdle he added: “There will be plenty in the race and there are still a lot of good horses around like Osana and Sublimity.”

McNamara stepped in for the ride on Sizing Europe with Timmy Murphy opting to ride Al Eile and owner Alan Potts confirmed he will keep the ride at the Festival.

He said: “It is not possible to take Andrew off now. Timmy Murphy had the opportunity to ride but chose Al Eile so we can’t take Andrew off as he has done nothing wrong.”

Hardy Eustace’s trainer Dessie Hughes said: “We have run a great race but the winner is a super horse. You only have to look at the form to know it was a good race. I think we will probably sidestep the Champion Hurdle and avoid meeting the winner again, as he will be hard to catch anywhere. But we will go home and think about it before making a firm decision.”

Meanwhile trainer Tom Taaffe reported Kicking King to be fine and well after his superb return to the track last Thursday.

It was the first run in more than two years for the 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, as he was only just beaten by Nickname in the Normans Grove Chase at Gowran Park.

Now Taaffe is planning a return to try and win back his Gold Cup crown from last year’s hero Kauto Star.

Kicking King is a best-priced 16-1 with totesport and Partybets for Gold Cup glory. And Taaffe said: “He’s absolutely perfect after the race and there have been no problems, thank goodness. I am inclined to go to the Red Mills with him (back at Gowran Park on February 16). He is terribly well and trotted this morning and he is in fantastic shape. He is 100%.

“He has been there, won a Gold Cup and got the T-shirt. People say they don’t come back but if we can keep him in one piece we will see what they are then saying the morning after the Gold Cup.”

He added: “I’d say the class horse is Kauto Star and you need to go no further than him. Denman won a SunAlliance and he stays and it will probably have to be like a bog to bring him into the picture. He doesn’t have the class of Kauto Star.”

TODAY’S NAP: Harbour Blues (2.40pm Wolverhampton)