Sizing Europe

Ardross

Senior Jockey
Joined
Aug 8, 2007
Messages
5,489
What a legend of a horse - his price today was an insult . He ran so well at Cheltenham and his performance last year suggested that nowadays on good ground at Punchestown he would be better .

I hear now retired on a high - should have been both a Champion Hurdler and Chaser . A long and happy retirement to the horse.
 
:adore: Great to see the old favourite bounce back like that.

tbh I thought he'd run better than he did in the QMCC and left him out of calculations after following the horse for years..........I will now go and shoot myelf.
 
I'm sad that I missed the race live yesterday evening, I have had a chance to watch the race now....what he did yesterday was a brilliant ending to an awesome racing career.

I've got loads of things wrong on forums over the years, including when I was sure he come home in front in the Champion Hurdle, but Sizing Europe is one of the few things I've got right!

He just thoroughly loves destroying his opponents. Two Champion Chases at Cheltenham would be on his CV were it not for the final fence debacle with Finian's Rainbow a couple years back.

I always had him down as more of a Speed Boat than a Ferrari, whatever you are happy retirement old boy!
 
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It was a crazy price and I Can't help feeling he'd have won even if Hidden Cyclone had stood up. I was delighted. A quite amazing horse and beautifully trained.

Nx
 
I'm sad that I missed the race live yesterday evening, I have had a chance to watch the race now....what he did yesterday was a brilliant ending to an awesome racing career.

I've got loads of things wrong on forums over the years, including when I was sure he come home in front in the Champion Hurdle, but Sizing Europe is one of the few things I've got right!

He just thoroughly loves destroying his opponents. Two Champion Chases at Cheltenham would be on his CV were it not for the final fence debacle with Finian's Rainbow a couple years back.

I always had him down as more of a Speed Boat than a Ferrari, whatever you are happy retirement old boy!

Eh, no they wouldn't - the movement interfered with Finian's Rainbow at least as much if not more.

Lets not let the deserved acclaim a great horse is getting rewrite history.
 
Jumping that fence would have been in his favour given Sizing Europe is such a sound jumper. This is where he really gains momentum in his races, especially near the business end. When you watch it you can't help but feel Sizing lost momentum, not knowing what to do for a few strides when swerving that fence.
I reckon it would have been a hell of a lot closer, but yes..... to say for sure he would have won would be incorrect. I take that point.
Either way it takes nothing away from the horse or his career. I accept your view, I hope you accept mine. Lets agree to disagree.
 
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I do respect your right to your own view but SE was being outjumped by FR as the race went on so that would only have helped FR. Your point about not knowing what to do can be appliedto both horses. It was an unsatisfactory end to the race but the best horse on the day won.
 
I know Henry was gobsmacked by what happened that day but he never whinged or detracted from FR's victory-which is the way it should be.
 
Good for him, Luke. No one is detracting from Finian's victory, and no one cares about the 'what ifs'. Finains won but I personally hold my opinions on that race. I'm not looking for consensus.
 
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28 runs in chases
16 wins
8 second places
2 thirds
2 fourths.
As good as it gets for any chaser of our time.
His Irish Champion Hurdle was as good a performance over hurdles as I have seen; a pity he never repeated it.
I thought his Champion injury would cloud his future career but thankfully it did not no more than running him over three miles did.
One of the greats for sure. A happy retirement to him.
 
They could pick up 4 or 5 handy Grade 2 or Grade 3 chases if they avoid the big guns but if he was mine I wouldn't be tearing up the fairytale ending.
 
it'll depend what he's pitched up against. another G1 is very unlikely but wouldn't be surprised if he won at gowran against some no-hopers.
 
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