Star turn Sizing to line out

RACING: Sizing Europe remains on track to provide star-appeal to Thursday's Grade Two feature at Clonmel.

The former two-mile champion returned to action with an ultra-smooth success at Gowran a month ago and after missing out on Down Royal’s JNwine Champion Chase due to ground conditions in the north, trainer Henry De Bromhead has switched his focus to the Clonmel Oil Chase.

Tranquil Sea, winner of the two-and-a-half-mile race for the last couple of years, is set to try and make it a hat-trick but others are likely to swerve the valuable pot due to Sizing Europe’s unexpected appearance.

Top English trainer Nicky Henderson has left Quantitativeeasing and mare Nadiya De La Vega in the race but they could wait instead to appear in Saturday’s Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

“With Sizing Europe going to Clonmel I’d say it is unlikely they’ll travel,” JP McManus’s racing manager Frank Berry said yesterday. “If for some reason he didn’t run, one of them could still come over, and the other might go for the Paddy Power.”

Other possible contenders to take on Sizing Europe are Rathlin and Blazing Tempo, although Forpadydeplasterer is also likely to skip it in favour of a trip to Cheltenham.

The Clonmel race takes place just before the scheduled seasonal reappearance of the new two-mile star on the block, Sprinter Sacre, at Cheltenham’s Paddy Power meeting.

The prospect of a clash between Sprinter Sacre and Sizing Europe in Sandown’s Tingle Creek Chase next month could remain on after this week’s action, but the big-race focus before that will be on Cheltenham this weekend.

Tranquil Sea bridged a near 30-year gap for Ireland in the Paddy Power Gold Cup – the British season’s first big handicap prize – when successful in 2009 and trainer Edward O’Grady will send the McManus-owned Torpichen to Prestbury Park for a possible repeat. He will be part of a significant challenge overall on the big race by McManus.

“Torpichen is a definite runner. Quantitativeeasing and the mare might run. And there is Fingeronthepulse as well,” said Berry yesterday. “Daralan is also going to run in the big hurdle on Sunday.”

The Paddy Power is a rare omission from Paul Nicholls’s CV but Britain’s champion trainer is preparing to unleash the high-class Al Ferof at the race. Nicholls has given the seven-year-old the nod after a satisfactory workout yesterday morning.

“Daryl rode him in a two-mile gallop with Doeslessthanme, The Knoxs, and Ted Spread this morning, and that confirmed to me that he is ready to run next weekend,” he said. “He came in late because he cut himself in the field in the summer, but he has come together beautifully . . . and today’s gallop confirmed that. He has got plenty of weight (11st 8lbs) but he probably deserves it and goes well fresh.”

Grands Crus will attempt to expand on a remarkable Paddy Power record for David Pipe and his father Martin, who previously dominated with seven wins. His son scored with Great Endeavour last year.

“In theory a handicap is a better starting point than a level weights one and he’ll be better over two-and-a-half miles first time back as he’ll be fresh,” said Pipe. “He looks to have a favourite’s chance.”

Grands Crus disappointed on his final start last season when fourth as favourite to Bob’s Worth in the RSA Chase.