3 minute read
Trainer Henry de Bromhead says his 2011 Cheltenham Festival winners Sizing Europe and Sizing Australia are raring to go back to Prestbury Park later this month.
Winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase, Sizing Europe will be bidding for a third straight Festival success after landing the Arkle back in 2010.
Speaking at a preview evening in Waterford City, De Bromhead said: "He's in great form, I'm delighted with him. He's an amazing horse to be associated with, a horse of a lifetime."
"I don't necessarily know if he's a better horse than last year, Big Zeb wasn't at the top of his game last time out, but he's certainly as good as he was going into the race this time last year."
Sizing Australia will once again tackle the cross-country course of the Glenfarclas Handicap Chase, for which he is the third-favourite behind the Willie Mullins-trained Scotsirish.
De Bromhead added: "He's in great form. He worked really well this week; he's really coming to himself.
"He's rated 5lb higher than last year which is not too bad for having won a race of that calibre. The other side of that is the likes of Garde Champetre has been dropped 5lb so suddenly we were 17lb better off last year and now we're only 7lb better off.
"Willie's horse is looking pretty good and obviously it's pretty frustrating he's taken an interest in Cross Country. Our lad took six seconds off the track record last year and the better the ground the better our fellow will run."