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Europe impressive at Punchestown.
Today, current Queen Mother Champion Chase title holder Sizing Europe demonstrated he is in no mood to let his title go at Cheltenham in March, and based on his demolition of one of his main rivals – Big Zeb – in this afternoon’s Grade One Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown, the Henry de Bromhead-trained gelding will once again take all the beating at Prestbury Park next month.
Imperial Shabra, the outsider of today’s 3 runners, took it up at the start, but Andrew Lynch did not want the race to turn into a tactical affair, and sure of Sizing Europe’s stamina, he took his mount to the lead at the second fence, and from that point on dictated the pace of the race.
Big Zeb was never far from the leader, but when Sizing Euripe kicked on between the last two fences, Robbie Power realised he was not going to catch Sizing Europe on today’s heavy ground, and he just kept Big Zeb up to his work, as the 9-10 race favourite powered clear for a 15 length victory over Big Zeb.
Speaking after the race, winning trainer Henry de Bromhead said:
“I’m delighted. Fair play to Andrew, I told him to go out and use his stride and his jumping, and that’s exactly what he did. That’s what he has to do if he is to win. We said we’d make it a good gallop, and that’s exactly how it went.
“That’s as impressive as he’s ever been on that type of heavy ground. He was amazing today, but Robbie Power did sit up on Big Zeb when he knew he was beaten, so it probably exaggerated the result.
“I’m never completely confident, especially when going to a place like Cheltenham in around 5 weeks, but you have to say it was a good prep.”
Big Zeb’s trainer Colm Murphy thought today’s heavy ground may not have suited his charge, and he is hoping for better ground when the two meet again at Cheltenham next month.
Trifolium in charge in Moscow Flyer Hurdle.
Never in any danger at any stage of this afternoon’s Racing UK sponsored Moscow Flyer Novices Hurdle at Punchestown, the Charles Byrne’s-trained Trifolium showed that owners Gigginstown House Stud will have a chest full of treasures for the novice hurdle competitions at next month’s Cheltenham Festival.
Davy Russel settled his five-year-old early on, but his partner was jumping so well, he jumped his way into the lead at the last flight down the back straight, taking the lead off pace-setter Rory O’Moore, and from there on in, Trifolium was never headed, the 7-4 favourite eventually coming home an easy 9 length victor from former smart flat performer Simenon.
Winning trainer Charles Byrne’s was delighted with Trifolium’s triumph, particularly as his charge achieved his success on heavy going, and subject to agreement from owners Gigginstown House Stud, Byrne’s is aiming Trifolium at a run in the Supreme Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Ayr set to hold Monday Meeting.
Despite snow, frost, and freezing fog effecting other parts of the UK, the south west coast of Scotland is currently free of winter conditions, and officials at Ayr have confirmed their Monday National Hunt Meeting will go ahead without even the need for an early morning inspection on Monday.
King equal to Allure.
The Willie Mullins-trained odds on favourite Allure of Illusion could only manage to hold on for a dead heat finish with King Vuvuzela in the Eadestown GAA and Parish Fair Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown this afternoon.
Ruby Walsh set out to make all on the 1-5 favourite, and everything seemed to be going to plan as Allure of Illusion led his rivals into the home straight, and even after making a couple of sketchy jumps at the last two flights, Walsh’s mount still looked in control, but Robbie Power then got going on the Paul Nolan-trained King Vuvuzela, and he wore down the leader on the run-in, and when the two flashed past the post as one, the judge could not seperate them, even after studying a digitally enhanced print.
While many may suggest Allure of Illusion is not as good as first thought, it is worth noting, King Vuvuzela won the Bumper Race at last year’s Punchestown Festival, and while he had run disappointingly on his first two outings over hurdles this season, trainer Paul Nolan thought he was under the weather for those two outings, and today’s dead-heat result may suggest the trainer was absolutely right.
Musselburgh and Kempton join list of cancellations.
Overnight frost left Musselburgh unable to stage their high profile Cheltenham Trials Meeting today. Frozen patches created by the overnight low temperatures made the racing circuit unsafe for racing to go ahead, with the meeting being abandoned early this morning.
Kempton suffered 6 centimetres of snow fall last night, and the meeting was abandoned prior to the 8.00 am inspection after it was clear the track and surrounding roads were unsafe for officials, trainers, jockeys and the genral public to make it to Kempton, let alone for racing to go ahead.
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