Sizing Europe team to make late call on target
The 2011 champion chaser brought the house down on his first start of the campaign when winning the PWC Champion Chase at Gowran Park for a fourth time, beating leading Gold Cup contender Road To Riches, but has not been seen since disappointing in the Clonmel Oil Chase in November.
De Bromhead said: “We haven’t decided whether Europe will go or not yet. It will be a late one (decision). We’ll see how he is and what the ground is like and so on.”
The County Waterford-based trainer looks set to send a small but select team of horses across the water next week. Sizing John, not sighted since winning the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas, is one such horse as he gears up for a tilt at the Supreme.
“Sizing John is in good form and he’ll go for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle,” said De Bromhead.
“Smashing will run in the Arkle, Grand Jesture goes for the three-mile handicap (Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Chase) and Bishops Road will run in the novice handicap (CHAPS Restaurant Barbados Novices’ Handicap Chase). That’s the team for the first day.
“Special Tiara will go for the Champion Chase on the second day and Supa sundae will run in the Champion Bumper.” Supasundae is an intriguing contender, having previously won for Andrew Balding and Tim Fitzgerald, including in a Listed bumper at Ascot, before being snapped up by De Bromhead’s main patrons, Alan and Ann Potts.
“He seems a nice horse, so we’re looking forward to him.”
