Cottage tied up again for Europe
Sent off at 1/8, Sizing Europe made every yard of he running, was deliberate at a few fences, but stretched clear on the approach to the final fence and came home, to warm applause from an appreciative crowd, 10 lengths clear to complete back-to-back wins in the event under Andrew Lynch.
“That was good. It was a bit of a slog, but he did what he had to do,” stated Henry de Bromhead afterwards. “He looked very idle in front on ground that he wouldn’t be mad about. His jumping was sufficient and he got the job done.”
When quizzed about Sizing Europe’s target at Cheltenham, de Bromhead responded: “The Gold Cup is definitely the outsider of the three races. We’ll wait and see what everyone else is doing before we decide. I have no doubt he’ll get two miles and five (the Ryanair distance) and he’s won and been second in a Champion Chase and won an Arkle around there over two miles. It’ll be up to Alan and Ann (Potts) and I’ll say it again — we’re very lucky to have him.”
Most bookmakers left Sizing Europe unchanged for his possible Cheltenham targets, although Stan James pushed him out to 7/1 (from 6) for the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
