Sizing Europe steps up Cheltenham preparations
Henry de Bromhead’s pride and joy produced a brilliant performance to win the Tingle Creek at Sandown at the start of December and has since been given a mid-winter break.
But the 10-year-old’s Festival preparations will soon be stepped, taking in a trip to Punchestown on February 5 along the way.
“He’s in good form and we backed off him after Sandown to give him a nice break over Christmas,” said the Knockeen handler.
“We’re starting to build him back up again now and we’re aiming towards the Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown.
“All going well there, he’ll be going back to Cheltenham for the Champion Chase.”
De Bromhead has admitted in the past that he would love to have another crack at three miles with his charge on a decent surface, with the gelding having only wilted close home over that distance in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal earlier this season.
But for the moment at least, the trainer is not looking beyond the Champion Chase.
“We’ll just have to see what happens. At the moment I’m focussing on Cheltenham and nothing else,” De Bromhead added.
Meanwhile, connections of 2009 Champion Hurdle hero Punjabi have confirmed the gelding will once again miss the entire season through injury.
The nine-year-old has not been seen since finishing well beaten at the 2010 Punchestown Festival, with a setback ruling him out of an intended novice chasing campaign last season.
Henrietta Knight has confirmed that Somersby is a likely starter in the 25th Anniversary of Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot on January 21.
The eight-year-old was last seen finishing fourth over three miles in the King George at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day but Knight is prepared to drop him back in distance.
