Sizing Europe was victorious
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Horse Racing: Europe's interest rate going up
By Richard SpillerDecember 09, 2011
SIZING EUROPE ripped the Tingle Creek away from the grip of Paul Nicholls as he stormed home at Sandown Park last Saturday (December 3).
In front of a magnificent crowd of more than 10,000 who demanded jumps racing of the highest quality, Henry De Bromhead’s nine-year-old lived up to his hefty billing.
Ground which had softened considerably given two nights of considerable rain was no obstacle to Sizing Europe.
A field of seven in the Sportingbet-backed grade one chase over two miles had been reduced by Gauvain falling, and as the leaders emerged from the railway fences only Kauto Stone – trained by Nicholls, who had claimed the title seven times running – was troubling him.
But a short lead quickly became a long one as the victor of the Champion Chase back in March stormed over the line eight lengths clear.
Wishfull Thinking, who had set off quickly on the first round, had to settle for fifth.
De Bromhead paid tribute to Sizing Europe afterwards, saying he was a horse for any ground and every distance, adding: “He was brilliant – he just winged the fences.”
Nicholls had the compensation of claiming the other grade one contest on the day as Ruby Walsh guided Al Ferof past 10/1 outsider For Non Stop by a neck in the Merkel Insurance Henry VIII Novices Chase.
Sandown regulars had enjoyed an excellent first day of the meeting on Friday, several hair-raising finishes highlighted by Fingal Bay claiming the grade two the Neptune Investment Winter Novices Hurdle from Simonsig.
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