Sizing Europe – Queen Mother Champion Chase Preview

The Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival is the 2-mile championship race for chasers and the 2012 renewal looks set to be a clash of the winners of the last two runnings. Sizing Europe took the prize back to Ireland in 2011, driven 5 lengths clear of his fellow countryman and 2010 winner Big Zeb. The previous two runnings had been won by Master Minded who is currently sidelined with a possible career-threatening injury sustained in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing day.

Sizing Europe has cemented his place at the head of the market in the ante-post Cheltenham betting with a smooth win in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown at the beginning of December. That followed a brave attempt to last out the 3-mile trip at Down Royal in November where he travelled easily until the closing stages where he was cut down by Gold Cup hope Quito De La Roque. His Trainer, Henry De Bromhead, will now concentrate on getting the horse freshened up in readiness to defend his crown at Cheltenham.

2010 Champion Chase winner Big Zeb gained his revenge on Sizing Europe in a pulsating finish at Punchestown in May and reappeared with an impressive victory at Navan in November. He secured his third victory in Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown on December 27th. He is potentially the biggest threat to Sizing Europe and the Irish have a strong hand in the race this season. Paul Nolan’s Noble Prince chased home Big Zeb at Navan and Leopardstown and was the winner of the Jewson Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last season. His trainer, Paul Nolan, feels that he may be better aimed at the 2 ½ mile Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Leading the home challenge is likely to be Nicky Henderson’s Finian’s Rainbow, second in the Arkle Chase in March and subsequently a winner at Aintree. He made a successful reappearance in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton over Christmas and, with normal improvement, he should be a major force in the top 2-mile chases this season. His conqueror at the festival, Captain Chris, finished a respectable third in the King George on Boxing day but would have to be considered if reverting to the 2 mile championship race in March.

Sizing Europe will be bidding to emulate past champions Badsworth Boy, Pearlyman, Barnbrook Again, Viking Flagship and Master Minded who have successfully defended their crown. There are several trial races between the New Year and March but the early indicators are that the Queen Mother Champion Chase 2012 will be a battle of past champions and a race to savour.