Betting
CHELTENHAM REWIND | Sizing Europe and Andrew Lynch win the 2011 Champion Chase
On Andrew Lynch’s 37th Birthday, we take a look back at one of his biggest successes in the saddle – with Sizing Europe in the 2011 Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival
To mark Andrew Lynch turning 37, today’s rewind takes a look back at one of his biggest successes in the saddle – on board Henry De Bromhead’s Sizing Europe in the Champion Chase at the 2011 Cheltenham Festival.
The then nine-year-old had stormed home in the Arkle Chase a year earlier and he was yet to strike over fences in the season building up to the two-mile chase at Prestbury Park.
Going off as a 10/1 shot, the gelding tracked the leading Mad Max for the first half of the contest before pushing in front after the seventh fence.
De Bromhead’s recruit dictated the pace from the front and was driven ahead by Lynch with two fences remaining.
He continued to push forward, with Colm Murphy’s Big Zeb attempting to challenge the gelding approaching the final fence.
They both cleared the last together, but it was Sizing Europe that had more stamina as he produced a wicked burst of speed to clear away in the home straight and claim success by five lengths.
The gelding would go on to win four more Grade 1 contests before being retired after the 2015 edition of the Champion Chase at the age of 13.
