Sizing Europe finds redemption at Punchestown after Cheltenham disappointment

By MARCUS TOWNEND, HORSERACING CORRESPONDENT

Published: 17:50 EST, 24 April 2012 | Updated: 17:50 EST, 24 April 2012

Sizing Europe, who lost his Champion Chase crown at the Cheltenham Festival, gained some compensation with a two and a quarter length success in the equivalent contest at the Punchestown Festival.

In gruelling conditions, the Henry de Bromhead-trained chaser held off the persistent challenge of runner-up Realt Dubh under jockey Andrew Lynch.

De Bromhead said: 'The ground is testing enough and they are finishing tired. Realt Dubh was bearing down on us there at the last and I was getting a bit nervous, but in fairness our lad ground it out and we’re delighted.

Big winner: Lynch celebrates victory at Punchestown

'He jumped great. Out of that ground he is never going to jump with the same exuberance he does on better ground, but he went and did the job.'

Sizing Europe's Cheltenham defeat had come in controversial circumstances as he looked the big loser when the last fence in the race was bypassed and Nicky Henderson’s winner Finian’s Rainbow was less inconvenienced.

Sizing Europe a 10-1 chance to regain his Champion Chase crown at Cheltenham next March, but De Bromhead did not rule out another try at longer distances than two miles.

Alderwood, ridden by AP McCoy, added the Grade One Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle to his win in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival when holding off Trifolium by half a length.

The Tom Mullins-trained eight-year-old, carried the colours of owner J P McManus.

Mullins said: 'I did give him a break after September so that we could come back for these festivals. The main target was Cheltenham and that came off, so what has happened since is out of this world. To win a Grade One anywhere is special, but particularly at Punchestown.

Redemption: Sizing Europe suffered a controversial defeat at Cheltenham

McCoy added: 'I actually genuinely think that the horse has got confidence from winning. I think that he has improved mentally for winning as much as physically. As crazy is it sounds, I think that he knows that he has won.

Meanwhile, Philip Hobbs took the training plaudits as Snap Tie  returned from over 900 days off the track to land the Boylesports.com “Official Betting Partner Of The Irish Soccer Team” Handicap Hurdle by two lengths under top-weight.

The 10-year-old had last been seen winning a Cheltenham novice chase in October 2009 and Hobbs had gradually nursed his charge back to fitness.

Jockey Richard Johnson was never too far off the pace on the 16-1 chance and his task was made easier when strong travelling joint-favourite Ceol Rua slipped up on the flat before the turn for home.

Hobbs said: 'It's amazing after two and a half years to come back and do that. He won his only start over fences so we couldn’t go for novice chases. I’d like to run him again somewhere, maybe in the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock or there is a race over two and a half miles at Aintree in May.'

Sir Des Champs, the 2-7 favourite, survived a last-fence blunder to land the Growise Champion Novice Chase.