TODAY’S GRADE Three feature at Punchestown has a major big-race pedigree that trainer Henry De Bromhead is hoping Sizing Europe can live up to before the 2010-11 season is out.
Five years ago War Of Attrition beat Kicking King in a vintage renewal of the Star Chase and before that season was over the winner had landed the Cheltenham Gold Cup while Kicking King picked up a second King George VI Chase victory.
Steeplechasing’s most prestigious prizes are currently at the back of De Bromhead’s mind for Sizing Europe and if the Arkle winner can impress over today’s almost three-mile trip then those Gold Cup and King George aspirations will be promoted to the front of a lot of minds.
Both War Of Attrition and Kicking King took the Arkle route as novices although neither managed to win the Cheltenham feature. Sizing Europe did it in style to add to a big-race pedigree that also includes the Irish Champion Hurdle but which also still carries the suspicion that the best may be yet to come from the eight-year- old star.
William Hill have already installed Sizing Europe as a 14 to 1 shot for Kempton at Christmas but today’s assignment against three decent opponents should reveal a lot about the horse’s stamina.
“We’re really looking forward to see how he gets on over the trip. Alan and Ann Potts (owners) are very keen to explore the three mile route as the season progresses and this is an ideal starting point,” De Bromhead said yesterday.
“I don’t know if he’ll stay. That’s why we’re running, to find out. If he doesn’t stay we can go back and look at races like the Queen Mother. If he gets home the King George is a possible target,” he added.
Last season’s Powers Gold Cup winner Jadanli, and the Gowran Grade Two winner China Rock, provide classy trial tackle but if dreams of Sizing Europe reaching the very top are realistic, then trial tackle is all they should be.
Sizing Europe won last year’s Buck House Chase on this card and his stable companion Loosen My Load bids to make it three from three over fences this afternoon. “People will compare the two and both are very good horses. This fella has gone straight from novice hurdles to novice chases. He won a Beginners over two and a half but jumps so well we will stick to the shorter trips for the time being,” De Bromhead said.
The third Grade Three on the card looks destined for Luska Lad who is rated clear of his four opponents and crucially is going in his favoured right-handed direction.
Lynam eyes Dubai sprint for Sole Power
TRAINER Eddie Lynam will be in Champions Day action at Newmarket this weekend with Duff who will be ridden by Pat Smullen but he has also outlined plans for his Group One winning sprinter Sole Power to be seen next in Dubai in March.
The shock 100 to 1 Nunthorpe winner missed out on the Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp on Arc day due to ground conditions but will be next seen in the Group One Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan in March. “Sole Power is finished for the season and is on holidays at the moment. We are aiming him at the big sprint in Dubai in the spring,” Lynam said yesterday.
Boylesports and Punchestown racecourse yesterday confirmed a €500,000 sponsorship deal that will see the bookmaker sponsor at the track until 2013.
