Horse racing: Sizing Europe silences doubters with Tingle Creek victory at Sandown

Sizing Europe confirmed his ability to travel and jump at speed remains very much intact by destroying his rivals in the Sportingbet Tingle Creek at Sandown.

Henry de Bromhead’s stable star’s talents have never been in doubt, but there had been some concern about how he would fare over a lickety-split two miles at Sandown having been beaten in a three-mile slog at Down Royal less than a month earlier. With the rain-softened ground supposedly another negative, the 11-8 favourite silenced any doubters with a display of sheer class in the hands of Andrew Lynch.

Kauto Stone, a half-brother to dual Tingle Creek winner and National Hunt legend Kauto Star, was also trying a shorter distance and did briefly threaten to make a race of it. But Sizing Europe left him for dead once straightened up to face the crowds and sealed an eight-length victory with another assured leap at the last.

De Bromhead said: “Apart from one mistake, he was brilliant. The plan was always to bring him here for his Christmas run and then take him back to Cheltenham to try to win the Queen Mother again.

“He had his prep race for that at Punchestown last year and I see no reason why we shouldn’t go back for that again.”

On an excellent Sandown card, the Paul Nicholls-trained Al Ferof made it two from two over fences in the Grade One Markel Insurance Henry VIII Novices’ Chase while Alan King’s West End Rocker was promoted to favourite for the National itself after an excellent round of jumping in the Betfred Becher Chase.

Aidan Coleman guided the Tim Vaughan-trained Stewarts House to success in the shorter Betfred Grand Sefton, but was handed a seven-day suspension (December 17-22 and 26) and also forfeited his share of the prize-money after hitting the winner 11 times.

Willie Mullins won his third Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle in four years as Sous Les Cieux enhanced his reputation at Fairyhouse on Sunday.

On a fine card, the Walsh-ridden Bog Warrior later claimed the Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase with an immaculate round of jumping.

Tony Martin’s charge was stepping up in class on just his second start over the bigger obstacles, but looks set to take high rank in his new discipline.

Voler La Vedette then showed a fine turn of foot to win the Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle and complete a fantastic weekend for Lynch.

Despite the ground riding soft to heavy, she quickened up impressively to win by three and three-quarter lengths from 5-4 favourite Mourad.