Sizing Europe solid for Sandown

The nine-year-old is four from five on his visits to Britain, with his most recent win coming when he cruised to victory in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham last March.

Indeed, he won the Arkle on his previous visit to Prestbury Park in 2010, and Henry de Bromhead’s charge is 8lb or more clear of his rivals on the official ratings.

His reappearance win at Gowran was fortuitous while De Bromhead once again tried him at three miles on testing ground in the JNwine.com Champion Chase most recently.

Sizing Europe looked the winner at the last but was running on empty in the last 100 yards and was pipped at the line by an out-and-out stayer in Quito De La Roque.

Three miles is obviously at the very edge of Sizing Europe’s stamina reserves, but such is his class he can very nearly get away it.

Dropped back to two miles on ground that will suit, the Irish raider should be able to put his speedy jumping to use and as long as the Down Royal race has not left a mark, he can reassert his position as king of the two-mile division.

If Al Ferof is as good as Paul Nicholls thinks, he should emerge triumphant in the Markel Insurance Henry VIII Novices’ Chase. Winner of the Supreme last season, Al Ferof made a seamless switch to fences with a Grade Two victory at Cheltenham least time.

A seven-length verdict over Astracad was useful enough, although it was not the strongest renewal of that race. This presents a stiffer test in theory, but Al Ferof should show his class.

Ubi Ace can build on a clear-cut Wetherby win in the Bavaria Imported Premium Lager Handicap Hurdle.

The five-year-old was a seven-length winner at the West Yorkshire venue and while he has been raised 10lb for that, Ubi Ace still rates an interesting contender.

Ballyvesey has not enjoyed an ideal prep for the Betfred Becher Handicap Chase but he could go well at a decent price at Aintree.

He had to race from 5lb out of the weights when a fair fourth in this contest last year but he is in the handicap proper this time off a feather weight of 10st.

Still only a six-year-old, Peter Bowen’s charge was probably lacking a little strength over the National fences last term and there looked to have been excuses in two starts over regulation obstacles this season.

Ballyvesey could not take up his usual prominent position on his outing at Wincanton while something looked to be amiss when he was pulled up at Haydock last time.

Bowen remains upbeat and he could be one of those horses who comes alive at Aintree.

Master Overseer goes for Chepstow’s Rhys Howells Memorial Handicap Chase rather than head to Aintree, and the hint should be taken. The eight-year-old is obviously not easy to train as David Pipe only managed to get him to the track once last term, when he finished second in the Sussex National.

He looked in fine form when making all to win a hurdles event at Chepstow last month, and despite the fact he will be racing off a career-high mark, Master Overseer could have any amount in the locker on just his 13th outing.

Greensward should appreciate the dip in class in Wolverhampton’s Did The Life Changing totescoop6 Rollover Handicap. Last seen finishing fifth in conditions company on turf, Greensward was far from disgraced behind Mia’s Boy and might be better back on the all-weather again.

At Sandown yesterday, Fingal Bay maintained his unbeaten record with a gutsy performance in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle.

Winner of a bumper and two Grade Two hurdles, the Philip Hobbs-trained Fingal Bay was sent off the 4-5 favourite to add to that tally.

Richard Johnson was happy to sit in behind the steady early pace set by Sizing Symphony and Coral Point before taking a more prominent role on the turn for home.

Nicky Henderson’s Simonsig looked to be travelling the best two flights from home as Johnson started to just push the market leader along, and many punters must have thought an upset was on the cards. However, Fingal Bay dug deep in between the last two hurdles and after clearing the final flight, he found plenty on the run-in to score by two and three-quarter lengths.