Sizing Europe to miss Leopardstown feature after setback
The seven-year-old has met with a setback and his trainer, Henry de Bromhead, is awaiting the result of a veterinary examination.
“He certainly won’t be running on Sunday”, reported de Bromhead. “Unfortunately, he’s not going to make it and everybody is very disappointed.”
Sizing Europe started 2-1 favourite for last year’s Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, following a brilliant performance in the AIG at Leopardstown.
But he stopped to a walk coming away from the second last and was virtually pulled up in the closing stages by Andrew McNamara.
He appeared to be back on track when second behind Hardy Eustace at Punchestown in November and was again entrusted with favouritism, despite an injury scare the previous day, when contesting the Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown at Christmas.
Sizing Europe travelled powerfully for much of the journey, but found little in the straight, fading to finish a disappointing fifth behind Sublimity. A top-priced 16-1 for this year’s Champion Hurdle, his participation surely has to be in some doubt now.
Meanwhile Barry Geraghty has been booked to ride Tom Cooper’s Forpadydeplasterer in Sunday’s Grade 1 Arkle Perpetual Cup at Leopardstown.
Forpadydeplasterer’s last outing was in another Grade 1, the Drinmore Chase, at Fairyhouse at the end of November when second to Trafford Lad.
Navan have abandoned the two chases scheduled for Saturday's card due to an unfit track and will now divide one of the remaining contests to make a six-race card.
