WITH the Cheltenham Festival now 39 days away, the Sun Racing team will be bringing you their ‘Festival 50’ every day between now and 10 March.
We will salute the Prestbury Park heroes that made us fall in love with the Festival, all the way until the ‘Cheltenham roar’ signals that the wait is finally over.
Number 39: Sizing Europe
Sizing Europe’s love affair with the Festival got off to a rocky start as he was stuffed in the 2008 Champion Hurdle when the 2-1 favourite.
It was a case of what could have been, as runner-up Osana – beaten a length by Katchit – had been beaten plenty further in the Greatwood by Sizing Europe.
But an injury meant Henry De Bromhead’s star ran no race and the dream passed over the Potts family for that year.
There were some up and down moments to come but in 2010, after a spell chasing, the Arkle was next in their sights.
Chasing perked the horse up and after four straight wins he was quietly fancied to do the business.
Favourite Captain Cee Bee failed to fire and after a horror jump from Mad Max turning in Andrew Lynch was left in front some way out.
The pair powered up the hill and despite the best efforts of Somersby – where have we heard that before – it was Lynch, De Bromhead and Sizing Europe that got up.
He was firmly back on track and ready for the big guns.
Open company was next and he was beat by old foe Golden Silver and superstar Kauto Star in the JNwine Chase and the Punchestown Champion Chase.
After an experiment at different trips, the two-mile Champion Chase was nailed down as the Festival target. Sizing Europe headed to Cheltenham without a win under his belt that season.
Punters deserted him and he was sent off a 10-1 chance with Master Minded the red-hot favourite. But horses don’t know their price and the Irish dominated.
The raiders had the first four home with Sizing Europe a dominant winner. Lynch never had him out of the first two and he was near foot perfect over his fences to win going away by five lengths up the hill from the brave Big Zeb.
De Bromhead’s star would finish runner-up in the next two renewals, running into Sprinter Sacre in his pomp in 2013 the year after his memorable battle with Finian’s Rainbow.
But connections never gave up and the horse returned to Prestbury Park in both 2014 and 2015. The best he could manage was a spirited fourth to Sire Du Grugy.
But he always fought to the end and has to go down as another Festival favourite. You just can’t knock him.
