RACING:IN A week that will decide jockeys' and owners' titles, as well as bring a tumultuous 2010-11 Irish National Hunt season to a resounding close, the Punchestown Festival kicks off this afternoon with Sizing Europe and Big Zeb looking for an edge in their personal battle for supremacy.
The last two Queen Mother Chase winners at Cheltenham clash in the €140,000 Boylesports Champion Chase, the intriguing centrepiece of a triple-Grade One card this afternoon.
Four others line up against them, including last year’s winner Golden Silver, who is joined by his stable companion J’y Vole as champion trainer Willie Mullins attempts to emulate his dozen-winner tally at each of the last two Punchestown Festivals.
JP McManus, who holds a lead over Gigginstown Stud, in another battle for the owners’ championship, is represented by Captain Cee Bee.
But despite all the star names, it’s hard to escape the conclusion that the day one festival feature is all about the big two.
Sizing Europe relieved Ireland’s 2010 Horse of the Year Big Zeb of his Cheltenham crown in March when running out a decisive, five-length winner under Andrew Lynch. That jockey misses out today due to injury and Timmy Murphy is back on board Sizing Europe for the first time since his sole previous ride on the horse yielded a Cheltenham hurdles success at the end of 2007.
For a horse who had won an Irish Champion Hurdle and an Arkle during a glittering career, Sizing Europe remained something of an enigma to many race fans up to this year’s Cheltenham Festival, with plenty unsure about his ability to live with the true big boys at two miles. Henry De Bromhead’s faith, however, was vindicated in style as Sizing Europe bounded up the Cheltenham hill, with the Co Waterford trainer pointing to better ground conditions as crucial to the victory.
In contrast, Colm Murphy, while not making excuses for Big Zeb’s runner-up placing, felt the going at Cheltenham might have been too dead for his star. But that won’t be an issue today with the ground likely to be quick.
Murphy also has the knowledge that Big Zeb finished ahead of Sizing Europe at this track during the winter, when he himself was mugged in the closing stages by Golden Silver, and circumstances could be more in his favour this time.
“He’s been very good since Cheltenham,” the Gorey trainer said yesterday. “He came out of the Queen Mother very well. We’re taking on Sizing Europe again and it’s 1-1 at the minute, and obviously we are hoping we come out on top this time.
“Thankfully he loves this good ground so that shouldn’t be a problem.
“The meeting is a lot later this year, but he’s shown no sign that he’s dropping off,” Murphy added.
Sizing Europe attempts to do better in this race than last year when he couldn’t cope with his seniors as a novice. But he looks a different proposition now, and will be accompanied today by his stable companion Changing Course, who looks set to cut out a good pace.
“He seems in good form. Everything seems good and we’re looking forward to getting him out and running him,” De Bromhead said. “Big Zeb, Golden Silver and Captain Cee Bee are all in there again, so it should be good.”
It is a couple of years since Big Zeb just failed to overhaul the then Cheltenham champion Master Minded in this race. He looks a more assured jumper, and on these ground conditions Big Zeb can overturn the new champ.
