Super Sizing seizes the day

The sporting gods rarely grant heroes the opportunity to script a glorious ending to their careers, but at Punchestown yesterday, Sizing Europe may have followed Brian O’Driscoll in writing a triumphant final chapter to a remarkable career.

The 12 year-old defied age and indifferent form in the Grade 1 Boylesports.com Champion Chase to possibly sign off with an eight top level triumph at a track where he has shone over the years.

His previous two runs were his worst over fences, fourth at Leopardstown over Christmas and the same place again in the Champion Chase led some to believe that his was a fading star, a leading light of brighter days taking a final curtain call. Champions, however, are forged in furnaces whose heat mere mortals could not withstand and Sizing Europe had let trainer Henry de Bromhead know that he was in no mood to fade gently into the night.