The return of Sizing Europe

Happy new season!

Well done Sizer lad - lovely consistent horse isn't he. Wonder if Rynair is an option.

Beautiful animal. Hopefully that will set him up nicely for a pop at the Tingle Creek which is shaping up to be a classic.

I'd back him in a heartbeat if I thought the Ryanair was an option.

I'd have him as clear fav for the Ryanair if it was his target (although some Finians fans may disagree)

I love the horse and he's a true champion but not many 11 yos win at the Festival.

Has Sizing ever met Kauto in his career? I cant recall it.

Yeah at Down Royal in 2010 in the JN Wine. Kauto ran poorly but beat him because SE probably didn't stay.

(should have said Kauto ran poorly by his own standards, not in absolute terms )

Understand re 11 year old stat, but I think the Ryanair is made for him this year.

Going up in distance makes sense to me, as he is getting older.  He stays 2m 4f very well and I think he would be the classiest horse in the race, with a fantastic Cheltenham record.

Imo I think he'd struggle to beat Sprinter over 2m, so I'd definitely go for the Ryanair because I think that is the race that he has the greatest chance of winning.

All perfectly sensible. I imagine Sprinter and Sizing will meet in the Tingle Creek and all the connections will have a good idea where they stand after that, though I also imagine Sizing's team will want to go for the QMCC at this point. It's not a foregone conclusion Sprinter wins in the Tingle Creek - it should certainly be his biggest test to date.

SE was brilliant in the Tingle Creek last year - if he turns up in that sort of form, Sprinter will have to be right at it.

Although I have to add that I would have Sizing as the biggest danger to Sprinter at the moment in the QMCC.

I think he is far ahead of Sanctuaire (even as a veteran) and would also back him in a rematch with Finians if they ever met over 2 miles again.

I to think they will go down the QMCC route; as long as they stay away from 3m I'll be happy!

Yep, it was certainly one of the best performances I saw.

WellC, i know it's controversial and speculation but I still think SE was unlucky in the last QMCC. Everything that could have gone wrong for him did, and that plus a brilliant bit of Gearghty riding when they went round the dolled off fence was just too much for him.

One of the best jumpers of a fence u will see this fella,Hardly breaks stride when he wings them,long may it continue

cant really see the 1st and 2nd in the QM going in the following years Ryanair.
Be amazed if they are not contesting the QM or the GC.

The way some people are talking we will have 1 horse line up in the QM!!

It will be a very small field in the QMCC budd (or at least a very small field of probable winners)

A bit like when Master Minded won his second, his only real dangers were Big Zeb and Twist Magic, who on their day had the ability to live with him (not including Well Chief because he was coming back off a huge lay off)

Either Finians or Sizing will probably run in the QMCC, Sanctuaire will, and the rest will be 16/1 plus who will probably finish 20 lengths+ back.

Well its normally a small field mate,but as long as we have a competitive race then thats fine.
The way some are talking its a waste of time the likes of SE and Sanctuaire turning up!!
Stupid talk at this stage.

Agree with that mate.

I rate SE as a much bigger threat than Sanctuaire, but as you say its early days and anything can happen.

Just managed to get Glastonbury tickets after preshing refresh about 3,000 times, and to celebrate I just put £8 on SE for the Ryanair at 26 - I know its a stupid bet but what's £8 come March

cause he did i forget about that was china rock in same race?

Howdi - yes - came third

dont spend it all at once well chief

loving the contributions lads this year keep up the good work. Still think we should have a pint at newbuty on henn day.

I be there with the wife on Hennessey day itself so probably can't. Hopefully there'll be other chances during the season.

Really hope he comes over for the Tingle Creek, would be some race

No mention of running in the Tingle Creek from HDB today in an interview on atr. Will run this Saturday at Down Royal if the ground is ok. If not then the Fortria or the Clonmel Oil. Then at Christmas either the KG, Lexus or the 2 mile chase. Perhaps he was just talking about runs around the Tingle but once again they're considering 3m it seems

Be gutted if he dont come over for TC,and dont they know he dont stay 3m well enough yet??

Think everyone on here was looking forward to Tingle Creek with SS,SE and Sanctuaire.  Looks like they're running scared and maybe they're right to pick up easy pots in Ireland.  Shame all the same.

Wouldn't fancy him for the CC. 11 year olds don't tend to win unless you're name Moscow Flyer. Although I guess it's relative to the horse and how much ability they retain. Sanctuaire is a strange one. I had him down as a bit of a dog and then he went chasing. He's still very unexposed. I don't think Somersby was at his best that day.

N/R over 3 miles today because of the change in ground

good,should not have been entered in the first place.

HE AINT A 3 MILER HENRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

To be fair to Henry, he's mentioned before that it's the owner who is pushing him down the 3 mile route as he's desperate for a Gold Cup horse.

does the owner take no notice of his trainer? thats bad!

Old Sizing is looking more like a stayer now imo.

I've mentioned it several times on here, but the Ryanair on good ground is tailor made for him.

He'd have to improve massively on that run today to beat Sprinter, because Rubi Light outjumped him at almost every fence, but he stayed on powerfully.

He's got the crusing speed between fences, and stays really well around Cheltenham.

Think it will be a very late decision on which race they go for.

He dont really like heavy ground,and his class won the day yesterday.
Hes probably a 2 and a half miler,but a horse with his class should imo be in the QM or GC.
Imo he wont stay 3m2 at Cheltenham,so should run in the QM.
I do get it that maybe the Ryanair gives him a better chance of winning,but i still would go in the QM if i owned him,horse deserves to be in the top race.
Hes not a shoe in for the Ryanair,and he is a top 2 miler still.

3/12/12 sporting-life
"He's in super form. He was brilliant the other day and he's looking much more like a staying type of horse this year," De Bromhead told At The Races. "I think he has already proved he gets further. He was second to Kauto Star and he was all-out on very heavy ground last year at Down Royal. "I don't know how anybody can make a case that he is not a three-mile horse."

Dont get his campaign this season at all