Cheltenham Head-to-Heads: The Arkle Chase

/ Will Hayler / 08 March 2010 / 1 Comments

Once a bottler always a bottler, says Will Hayler of Sizing Europe's Arkle prospects. Graham Cunningham disagrees, arguing that the Henry de Bromhead-trained gelding can beat the hill in a day one crackerjack.

Arkle

Will Hayler: Surely nobody in their right mind could be backing Sizing Europe for this return to the scene of his greatest ignominy in the Champion Hurdle two years ago. Sent off the 2-1 favourite after beating Hardy Eustace in Ireland, he came swinging on the bridle two out, turned to come up the hill and went from hero to zero in about three strides, eventually finishing more than 100 lengths behind the winner.

Yes, connections offered their excuses as to what was wrong for Sizing Europe that day, but he hardly looked a happy horse over hurdles last season and it's only since the heat has been turned down a notch over fences that Sizing Europe has been able to recapture winning form.

Yes, he's a talented performer who jumps smoothly, travels powerfully and has a turn of foot against most opposition. But this is the Arkle Chase. He'll have to work for victory against these opponents and Sizing Europe has already shown that when the going gets tough, he gets going. He's a place lay at [3.0].

I have three horses showing plus-figures in my book for the race. Captain Cee Bee would have beaten Sizing Europe but for his fall at Leopardstown on Boxing Day and he showed that he is back to something like the form he showed when beating Binocular in the Supreme Novices' two years ago. The downhill fences worry me a little, but I still have him as the likeliest winner along with Somersby.

Somersby is the sort of horse I usually like to be against in these events, but something about his victory in the Henry VIII at Sandown created an impression of a likeable, efficient jumper with a touch of class. Each time I watch his gutsy run in last year's Supreme Novices', where he kept battling away once under pressure, I keep thinking that this is a boy I want to have on my side.

The other runner that should be mentioned is Sports Line. He probably paid the penalty for chasing the fierce early pace at Leopardstown last time when caught by the fast-finishing An Cathaoir Mor, but that form looks decent with Take The Breeze 20 lengths back in third on his beloved heavy ground. This is the stiffest challenged he has faced by some way, but I wouldn't put you off. That said, his price could drift if we have a dry week and I wouldn't be rushing to take the [12.5].

Graham Cunningham: Hill, schmill Mr Hayler. Granted, you won't be the only one arguing passionately that Sizing Europe won't rise to the challenge of that punishing Cheltenham incline on March 16th. And you won't be the only one forced to reassess after he proves you wrong in an Arkle that has all the makings of a day one crackerjack.

Put simply, if you believe that Sizing Europe was beaten by the hill when he capitulated as hot favourite for the 2008 Champion Hurdle then you are completely ignoring the fact that he came up that same hill like a lion in foul conditions to bolt up in the 2007 Greatwood Hurdle.

Make no mistake, this is a race in which it's possible to argue a persuasive case for at least five horses and I tend to agree that Sports Line is a dangerous floater whose chance will increase appreciably if the rains arrive.

The bold jumping Somersby also figures very highly on my short list, but this debate centres around Sizing Europe and his ability to show his form at Cheltenham. Rather than focus on the hill I reckon it's best to remember that Sizing Europe suffered an injury while travelling powerfully in his Champion Hurdle bid and concentrate instead on the way Henry De Bromhead's gelding has jumped in assembling a perfect record of 4-4 since being sent chasing.

That combination of boldness and accuracy is a potent one when it comes to unforgiving contests like this one. So hill me no hills, Mr H. Sizing Europe might not win the Arkle - but it won't be the gradient that beats him.

Comments (1)

1. john | 15 March 2010

   captain c bee has by far the strongest form bar afall can't see him being beat