China Rock and Ruby in sizzling form

CHINA ROCK justified strong market support when comprehensively getting the better of Sizing Europe in the Star ‘Best For Racing Coverage’ Chase at Punchestown.

Ruby Walsh was allowed dictate the pace on the Mouse Morris-trained seven-year-old and, with the exception of one blip at the fourth, the Presenting gelding jumped impeccably. And Ruby probably sealed victory with a fluent leap at the fourth last, where Sizing Europe was ponderous and lost ground and momentum. China Rock was in command from this point and stayed on stoutly to score by seven lengths.

Trainer Mouse Morris, never a man to get carried away, commented: “He was good today. We had the benefit of the run at Gowran. And Roger Quinlan, who rides him at home, told me he felt like a different horse since then. Ruby rode the horse in Gowran and I left tactics to him. But I knew he’d make it a test as Henry’s horse (Sizing Europe) was unproven over the trip. This was more our trip than Gowran (two and a half miles). And he won well.”