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Sport News 24/7Timeform rate Sizing Europe as the pick of the two-mile hurdlers
General 
/ Editor / 28 January 2008 / 2 Comments Free £25 Bet
Ratings organisation put Leopardstown winner to top of list...
It has been well-documented that the current crop of two-mile hurdlers is a weak one in comparison to previous generations. With that in mind, it seemed only a matter of time before an improver found their way to the top of the division, and Timeform feel that Sizing Europe did just that on Sunday.
In winning the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle convincingly by eight lengths, Sizing Europe earned himself a Timeform rating of 165p, which puts him narrowly ahead of the arguably untrustworthy Harchibald (164§) and last year's Champion Hurdle winner Sublimity (162+).
Sizing Europe trades as the favourite for this year's event and has been backed into [3.55] on Betfair, having traded at a high of 150 on the exchange's ante-post Cheltenham market.
Given that Sizing Europe has Cheltenham experience (won the Greatwood in November) and has only had six completed outings over hurdles, he looks a worthy favourite for the Champion in six weeks' time. Indeed, the fact that his 'p' has been maintained, suggests there may be further improvement to come, which would surely make him very difficult to beat.
Others to impress the Halifax gurus on a weekend containing numerous Festival pointers were Gone To Lunch, who ran to a rating of 144 when finishing third to Inglis Drever in Saturday's Cleeve Hurdle and will take plenty of beating in the Spa Novices Hurdle, and Franchoek, who enhanced his status as the juvenile hurdler to beat come March - he is rated 146p after his impressive six-length success at Cheltenham.
Timeform's Top Ten Two-Mile Hurdlers
165p Sizing Europe
164§ Harchibald
162+ Sublimity
160 Al Eile
159 Jazz Messenger
159 Straw Bear
158 Hardy Eustace
158 Osan
157 Afsoun
155 Katchit
p the horse is likely to improve
+ the horse may be better than rated
§ the horse is unreliable (for temperamental or other reasons)
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Stu | 29 January 2008
I understand why Timeform has rated Sizing Europe so highly. However, surely Osana deserves a P?! He is uber-progressive as well. What a cracking race the CH is gearing up to be...
simon h | 17 February 2008
no no no ...osuna went off 15 lenghs clear at the start of his last race the other jockeys were far to thick to get to the start, he only won by 3 lenghts. sublimity was what 30 lenghs behind . if you dont back sizing europe at cheltenham you need your head looking at he destroyed some fantastic horses in the aig. and brushed aside osuna at cheltenham.take it from me i really think this horse will be better than istrabraq..