Europe can make winning comeback
This is where the long road to Cheltenham begins, with connections eyeing a hat-trick of successes at the great festival for the nine-year-old, who is the reigning two-mile champion chaser, having won the Arkle at Prestbury Park the previous year.
Sizing Europe rounded off last season at Punchestown in early May, when losing little in finishing three parts of a length second to Big Zeb.
Even though having plenty in hand at the weights now, he does face some smart rivals, especially Rubi Light and race-fit Finger Onthe Pulse.
That said, however, Henry de Bromhead’s charges are in rude good health and Sizing Europe has to get the vote.
On a card which is more than a little puzzling, the hopeful nap vote falls on Paul Nolan’s Westmeath in the Gowran Park Racing Club 2012 Beginners Chase.
The ex-winning pointer, a useful enough hurdler, was only marking time at that game and, hopefully, will be straight enough to do himself justice in a modest contest.
Kieran Purcell’s Warwickshire gets the nod in the Bumper, although not exactly covering himself in glory at Downpatrick last time.
Going of at odds-on, he looked a certain winner entering the final half mile, but ran off the bend, with less than three furlongs to cover, and was eventually beaten two lengths by Shark Hanlons’ newcomer, Well Mett.
For the moment, Warwickshire is given the benefit of the doubt, but one would definitely not want to see a repeat of those antics.
At Tipperary tomorrow, John Kiely’s Saint Gervais can land the nap in the Tipperary Co-Op Hardware and Super Value Bumper.
He was impressive on a sound surface at Galway and in testing conditions at Listowel of late and looks one for the future.
Captain Cee Bee gets the nod in the Grade 2 Friends Of Tipperary Hurdle. He had a stiff task at the weights in the Galway Hurdle, on his latest appearance, and wasn’t disgraced in finishing eighth to Moon Dice.
There is likely to loads of pace in the race, with Luska Lad and Fosters Cross in the field, and that should play into the hands of Captain Cee Bee, who is a real hold-up horse.
Mouse Morris’ First Lieutenent is the class act in the Like A Butterfly Novice Chase, but surely won’t be primed at this stage of the campaign and preference is for Slieveardagh, fresh from a smooth win at Listowel.
