De Bromhead ponders Sizing Europe plans
After much deliberation by connections, the 11-year-old was given the chance to regain his crown in the two-mile Queen Mother Champion Chase, instead of going for the longer Ryanair Chase.
The veteran did his best to fight off the awesome Sprinter Sacre running down the hill and although he was readily swept aside in the end, Sizing Europe was a clear second.
As there is no race over an intermediate distance at Punchestown next month, he will either stick at two miles for the Boylesports.com Champion Chase, which he won last year, or step up to three miles in the Punchestown Gold Cup.
De Bromhead said: “He’s fine – there’s not a bother on him. We’re hoping he’ll go to Punchestown, all being well. We’ll see what the ground is like and how it all unfolds. It’s still a few weeks away yet, so we’ll see.”
Meanwhile, John Quinn is looking forward to seeing Countrywide Flame step up in distance at Aintree next month following his superb effort in defeat in last week’s Stan James Champion Hurdle.
Last year’s Triumph Hurdle hero ran arguably a career-best in finishing third behind two former winners in Hurricane Fly and Rock On Ruby, and Quinn feels the two and a half miles of the Aintree Hurdle will suit his versatile five-year-old ideally.
Quinn said: “He’s absolutely fine and at the moment, we’re looking towards Aintree.
“That will probably be his last run over hurdles this season. He could go back on the Flat for the Chester Cup if he’s all right, but Aintree is our main aim.”
A decision has yet to be made over the future of three-time Cheltenham Festival winner Albertas Run but he will not be running in the John Smith’s Grand National.
There was talk among his connections after he was pulled up in the Ryanair Chase last week that he may have run his last race.
The 12-year-old, twice a winner of the Ryanair and also the 2008 RSA Chase for trainer Jonjo O’Neill, was making his first start of the campaign.
One horse who could be National-bound is Dessie Hughes’ Tofino Bay, who was denied Cheltenham glory by Back In Focus in the dying strides of last week’s National Hunt Chase.
Hughes told At The Races: “I’ll have to speak to Mr (Michael) O’Leary (owner). I’d be anxious to run in the English National.”
