Sizing Europe tingles with big victory margin

Sizing Europe proved much too good for his rivals as he ran away with the Sportingbet Tingle Creek at Sandown.

The Arkle Trophy and Champion Chase hero was coming back to two miles after being narrowly beaten in testing ground over three miles at Down Royal last month and he looked much more comfortable.

In the hands of Andrew Lynch, jumping with the verve that was the highlight of his two notable Cheltenham victories, the 11-8 favourite flew the railway fences and he was vying for the lead before the turn for home.

Kauto Stone, a half-brother to dual Tingle Creek winner Kauto Star, also travelled easily, fenced fluently and was the only one able to stick with Sizing Europe when the pace quickened. But Henry de Bromhead’s stable star got the better of the argument coming towards the second last and produced another couple of exuberant leaps to seal an eight-length triumph.

Lynch said: “He got into a nice rhythm. He travelled well and jumped super. He’s a horse who can run over any trip and he will run his heart out, but two miles is probably his ideal trip.”

At Aintree, West End Rocker made it second-time lucky over the famous Grand National fences with a determined performance in the Betfred Becher Chase. Alan King’s nine-year-old 10-1 chance had something to prove after being pulled up on his recent seasonal reappearance at Cheltenham but jumped accurately throughout under Wayne Hutchinson and was in the lead at the fence before turning for home.

Niche Market looked to be travelling the better of the two at the top of the straight but he soon emptied, while West End Rocker galloped on relentlessly in the mud to score by 22 lengths.