Awesome Europe set for assault on Cheltenham
Following up his chasing debut success on the track in May, the Henry de Bromhead-trained 8/11 favourite jumped impeccably and, left in front when front-running Sarteano fell at the eighth, Sizing Europe galloped on relentlessly to slam chasing debutant Harchibald by no less than seventeen lengths.
This was an excellent performance from a high-class recruit to chasing. Bookmakers reacted by slashing his price for the Arkle at Cheltenham, Boylesports making him a 10/1 chance (from 14) while Paddy Power go 7/1.
Trainer de Bromhead was understandably upbeat about Sizing Europe’s display. “It’s always a worrying time coming into these races. But he was great, brilliant, really exciting. It’s just great to have him back.
“Andrew (Lynch) gave him a lovely, sensible ride and was in no hurry, although I was a bit worried when we lost Sarteano. He loves jumping fences and you could see him pricking his ears after jumping each one, looking for the next.”
Sizing Europe will campaign at two miles for the rest of the season. His next outing will be at the Paddy Power meeting at Cheltenham next month, before heading for Grade 1 action at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Noel Meade expressed himself “delighted” by Harchibald’s first excursion over fences, explaining: “He always needs his first run. But Paul said he jumped like a handicapper, the way he has been schooling. I suppose he struggled a bit over the longer trip but I was very happy with him.”
Meade and Paul Carberry enjoyed a fine double with Donna’s Palm and Casey Jones in the other big-race action.
Successful on the flat at Navan last week, Donna’s Palm justified 4/7 favouritism in the Ryan’s Cleaning Events Specialists Hurdle, beating Tramp Stamp comfortably under a typically confident Carberry ride.
Meade intends aiming the grey, which is owned by the Grand Alliance Racing Club, in the November Handicap at Leopardstown, depending on how the handicapper assesses him.
Or he could deputise for stable-companion Go Native in a Grade 3 event at Down Royal next month, if something happens to last season’s Supreme Novices winner.
The winning trainer added: “I probably overdid it with him last year as his form tailed off badly later in the season. That might have been caused by the hard race he had against Hurricane Fly at Fairyhouse. But I won’t let it happen again.”
The Meade/Carberry double was completed when Casey Jones, pulled up in the Irish Grand National when last seen, captured the Star Chase at the expense of Becher Chase-bound Kilcrea Castle.
The winner, a Grade 1 winner at Leopardstown last Christmas, was conceding weight to his five rivals and delighted Meade.
“That was great. He jumped brilliant and won well. We’ll stick to Plan A with him – enter him in the Hennessy and hope that Paul Nicholls runs Denman because, if he does, this fellow will slip in at the bottom of the weights.
“Casey Jones jumps and stays, but doesn’t like the ground too soft. Both Paul and myself think he could be an Aintree Grand National horse one day.”
The Colm Murphy-trained Voler La Vedette, winner of a valuable mares race at the Punchestown Festival last April, made a triumphant return to action in the listed Grabel Mares Hurdle, quickening in eye-catching style to beat last year’s winner Give It Time.
“She’s an awful lot stronger and improving all the time,” stated Murphy, who rates the daughter of King’s Theatre highly. “She’ll tell us where to go through the season. But she’s just a proper filly, a proper good one.”
Murphy nominated the Grade 3 WKD Core Hurdle at Down Royal (November 6) as the mare’s next assignment, when she’s likely to clash with Go Native.
Runner-up to Dunguib in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham last time, Some Present made a successful start to his hurdling career when landing the opening Buy Your 2010 Annual Badge Maiden Hurdle.
The Tom Mullins-trained six-year-old jumped sketchily but Davy Russell gave him an ideal ride, refusing to panic and easing into contention gradually before launching his challenge on the approach to the final flight.
In command on the run-in, Some Present beat Tango Foxtrot by three lengths, a display that augurs well for his future over hurdles.
Winning trainer Mullins said: “It was an ideal opportunity to start him off, to get him off the ground. We decided to get him early experience and I’m very pleased with him.
“He’ll have to improve, but should do, both in terms of fitness and jumping. He was very clever out there and adapted well as he went along. I’m fierce happy with him.
“He’ll be better over a longer trip.”
