Cheltenham Festival - Queen Mother Champion Chase Preview 2012

The Queen Mother Champion Chase is the highlight on day two of the Cheltenham Festival and it is easy to see why.

A small but select field of the fastest chasers in national hunt racing take off over a blitzkrieg two miles tackling twelve fences where turn of foot and jumping finesse is at a real premium.

One mistake can put an end to the chance of even the most talented horse as discovered by dual champion Master Minded in last year’s renewal.

Master Minded’s successor, Sizing Europe, is a red hot favourite to follow up in 2012 and there seems little reason to oppose Henry de Bromhead’s stable star who has proved consistently classy at the highest level.

The ten-year-old, who has also won an Arkle Chase, followed up on a tremendous 2011 when trouncing a high rate field in the Tingle Creek at Sandown before putting long term rival Big Zeb fully in his place at Punchestown.

Until that recent race in Ireland, Big Zeb had been largely competitive with Sizing Europe at the head of the market for the Champion Chase following their close dual up the Cheltenham hill last year.

But with Big Zeb now an eleven-year-old, Sizing simply looks to have the measure of his adversary and should confirm superiority over his rival this time around.

Big Zeb’s subsequent dramatic drift in the betting suggests he is friendless and could go off even bigger than the current 5/1 best price come race day.

If this were a handicap, Sizing Europe would be giving chunks of weight all around - meaning that the rest of the likely line-up will have to perform with considerable improvement if they are to threaten his crown.

Somersby always looked a little short of being top drawer until he enjoyed his day in the limelight at Ascot.

At 14/1, Henrietta Knight’s charge is a massive each way price taking into account that he is a Victor Chandler Chase winner and can achieve a placing – with the potential to pick up the pieces should Sizing Europe run a shocker.

Wishful Thinking is another horse of extreme interest with Phillip Hobbs now electing to drop him back down in trip after beginning the campaign over further.

The nine-year-old has turned in some indifferent performances this term, however he was always expected to come into his own later in the season.

His victory over Medermit at Aintree last year represents very strong form and at 20/1 he may prove to be a real steal.

Finians Rainbow can hardly be ignored based on the strength of his recent efforts however at 5/1 Nicky Henderson’s representative may be just a little on the short side to take on the current champion.

Sizing Europe’s ability to stay further than two miles means he will benefit from a relentless pace and this should be a definite with Imsingingtheblues entered.

But David Pipe’s horse is an ultra-consistent yardstick and the ten-year-old may snick a place at a whopping 80/1 and prove to be more than just a pacemaker.

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03/03/2012     © Frixo 2024