Sizing Europe Pointed To 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup
- By A.J. Ryder on September 22, 2011 15:38 GMT
After winning the 2011 Champion Chase by a whopping five lengths at Cheltenham this year, it appears as though Sizing Europe's connections believe that the nine-year-old bay is ready for the highest level and he'll be pointed towards the Cheltenham Gold Cup if he remains healthy throughout the National Hunt season.
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Scoring at a hefty 10/1 margin, he was one of the biggest coups of the week for a number of punters and, though he was bested next time out by Big Zeb, many expect him to come into this year's campaign with plenty of verve.
Now an earner of well over half a million sterling, the chasing star is going to need everything he's got to mount a challenge to the still-developing Long Run – who became the first six-year-old in quite some time to conquer the biggest Grade 1 of them all. The bay or brown son of Cadoudal is the new pride of Nicky Henderson's yard and he is already being backed to the tune of 9/4 ante post for the Gold Cup.
Kauto Star and Denman, a pair of living legends if there ever was one, are both still on the board with Denman being the most likely runner this year. Several bookmakers have him as low as 14s while Kauto trades upwards of 33/1. He doesn't look the same horse and many expect a selective campaign this season to serve as a victory lap of sorts. Just don't put him in the National.
Master Minded is expected to challenge at the highest level for much of this season and you'll find him priced amongst Captain Chris (who looks poised for a breakthrough) and Weapons Amnesty in the 20/1 corridor.
Sizing Europe is still commanding a very reasonable price off 33/1 for all those who fancy a long range forecast to make this season's NH season all the more exciting. Conditioner Henry De Bromhead pointed to Gowran and Down Royal as the two potential starting points for Sizing's season, “He ran very well at Down Royal over three miles and he's a very adaptable horse. We'll take each race at a time.”
