Racing:Sizing Europe will miss the rearranged William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on Saturday after connections of the 2010 Arkle Trophy winner decided against sending the nine-year-old over to England for the second time in three weeks.
Instead, trainer Henry de Bromhead will attempt to give Sizing Europe a run before Cheltenham nearer home.
“After careful consideration we’ve decided to bypass the rearranged King George this Saturday with Sizing Europe,” he said. “He’s in great form at home so what we’ll do now is sit down and look at our options here over the next three to four weeks with a view to a run prior to the Festival in March.”
Sizing Europe put up a pleasing effort over three miles when second to Kauto Star in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal in November, and his conqueror is seeking a record fifth successive victory in Kempton’s feature.
The three-week delay and the forecast softer ground conditions will play to Kauto Star’s strengths, according to his trainer Paul Nicholls.
“Obviously the race being delayed is a setback, different horses will be different. It doesn’t appear to have made any difference to Kauto Star because he likes to be really fresh and well and you don’t have to murder him in his work,” the trainer said today.
“He had a nice little break for a week after the day it was due to be run. He still cantered every day, we have just picked him up quietly and he’s in really good form. It doesn’t seem to have affected him at all. He worked great on Saturday morning and we are very happy with him.
“He was in good order when he won at Down Royal and he’s improved a lot for that run. It is a totally different race to what it would have been on Boxing Day. It would have been really good ground then, on Saturday if the forecast is right it looks like being really soft.
“That will be more of an advantage to him than it was on Boxing Day because a lot of horses would have have been a bigger threat on good ground whereas on soft ground it will go against some of them so it’s probably to his advantage.”
Nicky Henderson has grave concerns that the likely soft ground will be against Riverside Theatre.
“I’m worried the ground has gone against Riverside Theatre. He’s in great form and on good ground I would be really keen,” said the Seven Barrows handler.
Henderson also saddles Long Run, whose owner Robert Waley-Cohen is unconcerned about the predicted conditions. The French import has handled soft ground well in the past and connections believe his previously sketchy jumping is improving all the time after he schooled under Waley-Cohen’s son, Sam, on Tuesday.
“The ground is what it is and I’m not worried about it, it’s the same for everyone,” said the owner. “He won at Auteuil eight times in very soft ground. “I was down in Lambourn this morning, Sam gave him a pop and I have never seen him jump so well. He’s really got the message and is jumping brilliantly. All young horses have to learn and I think he’s got the message.
“This is his second race out of novice company, but jumping is not the worry — Kauto Star is the worry. We have quite a bit to find to beat him, but it is nice to be in there with a chance.”