Sizing Europe and Andrew Lynch jump the last fence clear© Photo Healy Racing
Reigning Champion Chaser Sizing Europe ‘levelled the score' over fences (at 2-2)with arch rival Big Zeb when romping to a 15 lengths win over the 2010 Champion Chaser in a thrilling renewal of the Grade 2 Boylesports.com Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown today.
The pair had met three times previously with Big Zeb holding a 2-1 edge over Sizing Europe. Both were joined in today’s field by Outsider Imperial Shabra who made the early running but was quickly outpaced by the pair.
Sizing Europe’s jockey Andrew Lynch elected to make the running and while Big Zeb followed closely for much of what was effectively a ‘match’, the winner proved much too strong from the second last fence. The winning margin was 15 lengths but Big Zeb was eased from the final fence by jockey Robbie Power.
Afterwards Sizing Europe’s trainer Henry De Bromhead said “myself and Andrew (Lynch) are delighted!
“Andrew said he didn’t jump like he normally does but I thought he was brilliant! He just popped a few because of the ground and didn’t let ‘fly’ but it was a savage performance and it is straight to Cheltenham now and that’s the prep run out of the way.
“Hopefully he is ok in the morning and we’ll roll on from there - he is an amazing horse to be involved with.
“I’m probably only brave enough now to make the running with him – it has taken me six years to let him roll on at his own pace. In most of the top races there is plenty of pace on so he didn’t need to do that but I said to Andrew to just go out and enjoy himself.
“Travelling (to Britain) is like having another race and it’s great to win a race at Punchestown. It is great for Irish racing to have two champions running here and this was a stepping stone for both horses - they are usually so close and I’m sure they’ll be a lot closer come Cheltenham!”
Stan James Bookmakers cut Sizing Europe to 5/4f (from 2/1) for the Champion Chase while pushing Big Zeb to 7/1 (from 4s) for the same race.
