Sizing stamps class at Gowran
Saturday 6 October 2012
PWC Champion Chase full result:
1 Sizing Europe (A E Lynch) 11-10 Fav
2 Forpadydeplasterer 5-1
3 I Hear A Symphony 20-1
4 First Lieutenant 7-4
Sizing Europe made a pleasing seasonal reappearance with a smooth win in the PWC Champion Chase at Gowran Park.
A rather fortunate winner of this two-and-a-half-mile contest 12 months ago, Henry de Bromhead's stable star duly landed his 16th success from 32 starts.
Although China Rock and Joncol were late absentees the Grade Two race was no walk-over as I Hear A Symphony made it a true test.
Sizing Europe, the 11-10 favourite, always had the leader in his sights and jumped in front at the second-last fence.
The 2011 Queen Mother Champion Chase hero pulled away to strike by seven and a half lengths from Forpadydeplasterer.
It provided jockey Andrew Lynch with his first winner on his second day back after he broke a leg in a fall at Cork in May.
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, owners) but he has loads of options."
Lynch said: "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, on I hear A Symphony) made it a good gallop."
Sizing Europe was cut to as short as 10-1 for the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, although 16-1 is still available with Irish firm Boylesports. Ladbrokes are next best at 14-1.
Ladbrokes, however, make Sizing Europe 4-1 to regain his crown in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March behind Evens Sprinter Sacre and 3-1 Finian's Rainbow.
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