Lynch's ban disgraceful, says De Bromhead

SIZING EUROPE’S trainer Henry De Bromhead hopes lessons have been learned from the last-fence fiasco that marred the finish of the Queen Mother Champion Chase two weeks ago but described as “disgraceful” the six-day ban given to jockey Andrew Lynch on the back of the controversial race.

Lynch was handed the suspension for hitting Sizing Europe in the wrong place in the final stages of the Champion Chase as the Irish star fought in vain to hold off the challenge of Finian’s Rainbow.

However, that memorable finish became almost a secondary matter to the issue of the omitted final fence which many felt was decisive in Sizing Europe’s defeat as Lynch dramatically hauled the horse around the wing of the obstacle, carrying the winner with him.

The finish could have been even more controversial had Sizing Europe and Finian’s Rainbow jumped the fence which was officially omitted due to Wishfull Thinking’s fall on the first circuit but which left uncertainty about whether or not it had to be jumped in the closing stages.

De Bromhead was lauded in the immediate aftermath of the race for his calm, dignified response to the incident but yesterday indicated it was Lynch’s suspension that continues to rankle most with Sizing Europe’s connections.

“Different things conspired against us but no one can know for certain if we’d have won or not if they’d jumped the last. It’s done now and there is nothing we can do about it,” the Co Waterford-based trainer said.

“What I was astounded by was the suspension given to Andrew. He’s the one that saved everybody’s neck and I thought it was very harsh to then turn around and give him six days.

“Okay they have their rules and maybe he did hit the horse in the wrong place. But six days is absolutely disgraceful. They could have shown leniency and a little bit of leeway.

“You would have had the first two past the post disqualified and Big Zeb, who finishes 15 lengths behind them in third, crowned champion. Andrew prevented that and in the circumstances I think six days was disgraceful,” De Bromhead added.

A set of plastic arrows were placed along the fence immediately after the first-circuit incident at Cheltenham in which a photographer was injured by the fallen horse, as well as jockey Richard Johnson being hurt. However, those arrows towards the outside of the fence were taken down and concentrated on the inside where Johnson was lying in order to help prevent any further incidents from loose horses.

An official standing near the rail also waved a flag as Sizing Europe and Finian’s Rainbow raced towards the fence.

The British Horseracing Authority stood by their procedures and pointed to rules which state any fence with signs on it has to be bypassed. However, Lynch and Geraghty had to make their minds up in a split-second about jumping the fence which was clear towards the outside.

The BHA later said it would review the case and change their procedures if necessary. “I hope they have learned something from it,” De Bromhead said. “In Ireland if a fence is omitted then a wing is put across it and everyone knows where they stand. I don’t know why they used these arrows.”

He also pointed to the narrow gap between the fence and a hurdle that Sizing Europe and Finian’s Rainbow had to run through at Cheltenham.

“The wing of the hurdle could have been removed too and placed across the fence,” he added. “If three or four horses had been upsides they might not all have been able to get around.”

Sizing Europe is being readied for the Punchestown festival where he will attempt to make it third time lucky in the Boylesports Champion Chase.

Sizing Europe has emerged in good shape from his Cheltenham experience. “All we’re focusing on now is getting him to Punchestown,” De Bromhead said. “He has come out of Cheltenham well and looked in very good shape this morning.”