Europe makes winning return at Gowran Sizing Europe got his season off to the best possible start at Gowran Park this afternoon when taking the Grade 2 PWC Champion Chase for the second successive year. A 16th career win, six of which have been at Grade 1 level including the "Arkle" and "Queen Mother Champion Chase" at the Cheltenham Festival, the 11/10 favourite scored here in convincing fashion. Andrew Lynch, who only returned to action here yesterday after over four months on the sidelines with a broken leg, sent the ten-year-old gelding to the front two out. Henry de Bromhead's charge soon settled the issue drawing clear to beat Forpadydeplasterer (5/1) by seven and a half lengths, with the front-running I Hear A Symphony weakening another four and a quarter lengths back in third. The line-up was reduced to just six after China Rock (lame) and Joncol (stone bruise) were both ruled out De Bromhead said, "I'm delighted with that. I felt he was a bit scratchy but he's like that on his first run every year. He nearly fell a few times here last year. "He just likes to get his eye in on his first run but as it gets on in the season he really starts to attack them. It's a lovely way to start and we're looking forward to the season. "There are three races to consider for him in November. The three-miler in Down Royal (jnwine.com Champion Chase), the Fortria Chase at Navan or a conditions race at Cheltenham. "We'll try to space it out, so we'll run in one of them and then something at Christmas. He's so good at two miles, two and a half miles and two and three quarters but three miles, I just don't know. "I want to speak to Ann and Alan (Potts) but he has loads of options." Lynch commented, "He slipped a bit into the first and it took a while for him to get into a rhythm. But he did it really easy. "It was a true run race and Robbie (Colgan) made it a good gallop. I was happy enough to follow him. It was gorgeous jumping ground, you couldn't fault it. Hopefully he will have another good year." With connections yet to decide whether they will step him up or down in distance, Stan James offered prices on a number of his options. They go 10/1 (from 16/1) for the King George, and 6/1 (from 7's) to regain his crown in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Paddy Power cut him into 7/1 (from 10's) for the Champion Chase. (AM & GC)
