CHELTENHAM CHAMPION HURDLE:SIZING EUROPE is back in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle picture after recovering from a setback that stopped him running at Leopardstown last month.
The Henry De Bromhead-trained star was taken out of ante-post betting lists for Cheltenham when ruled out of the Toshiba Irish Champion Hurdle just days before the race.
However, Sizing Europe is back in work and De Bromhead is hopeful of getting the horse back to the Champion Hurdle in which he started favourite last year only to injure his back when disputing the lead at the second-last flight.
“The horse is back cantering and the vets are very happy with him so we are definitely preparing him towards the Champion Hurdle,” De Bromhead said yesterday.
“He won’t have a run beforehand. He runs well fresh and we are quite capable here of getting him fit enough to run at Cheltenham,” he added.
Sizing Europe last appeared at Christmas when he could only manage fifth to Sublimity in the December Hurdle, after which De Bromhead pointed to a lack of pace as a reason for his horse’s disappointing display.
“It was good to see Brave Inca winning the last day off a strong pace. It seemed to suit him and I’m happy they just didn’t go quick enough for our horse at Leopardstown,” he said.
Sizing Europe’s only other start this season was when runner-up to Hardy Eustace at Punchestown in November, but De Bromhead believes that on his best form, when landing last year’s AIG, the horse can still be a significant player in the Champion Hurdle.
Although removed from some ante-post lists, some firms still quote Sizing Europe at general odds of 20 to 1 to make up for last season’s festival disappointment.
