Sizing Europe (24 March 2002) is an

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

National Hunt In horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Republic of Ireland, National Hunt racing requires horses to jump fences and ditches. National Hunt racing in the UK is informally known as "jumps" and is divided into two major distinct branches: ...

horse, best known for winning the 2011

Queen Mother Champion Chase The Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. As part of a sponsorship agreement with the onl ...

Cheltenham Cheltenham (), also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a spa town and borough on the edge of the Cotswolds in the county of Gloucestershire, England. Cheltenham became known as a health and holiday spa town resort, following the discovery of mineral s ...

. He won the

Irish Champion Hurdle The Irish Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 metres), and du ...

in 2008 before switching to chasing, where he has won six Grade 1s over fences.

Breeding

Sizing Europe is a bay gelding with a white

star A star is an astronomical object comprising a luminous spheroid of plasma (physics), plasma held together by its gravity. The List of nearest stars and brown dwarfs, nearest star to Earth is the Sun. Many other stars are visible to the naked ...

and white

socks A sock is a piece of clothing worn on the feet and often covering the ankle or some part of the calf. Some types of shoes or boots are typically worn over socks. In ancient times, socks were made from leather or matted animal hair. In the late ...

on his hind feet bred in Ireland by Angela Bracken. He was sired by Pistolet Bleu, winner of the Group 1

Critérium de Saint-Cloud The Critérium de Saint-Cloud is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Saint-Cloud over a distance of 2,000 metres (about 1¼ miles), and it is sche ...

and Group 1

Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud The Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Saint-Cloud over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1½ miles), and it is sc ...

. His best flat winner has been the

Prix Hocquart The Prix Hocquart is a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1 mile and 4 furlongs) at ...

and

Prix Greffulhe The Prix Greffulhe is a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old horses. It is run over a distance of 2,000 metres (about 1¼ miles) at Saint-Cloud in May. History The e ...

winner Maille Pistol, but he is best known as a National Hunt sire, with his jumpers including Geos (

Christmas Hurdle The Christmas Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 metres ...

), Katarino (

Triumph Hurdle The Triumph Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 f ...

) and the

Grand National The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England. First run in 1839, it is a handicap ...

runner-up Cappa Bleu. Sizing Europe's dam is Jennie Dun, a mare by Mandalus. As a descendant of the broodmare Simone Vergnes, she was a distant relative of the 1943

Oaks Stakes The Oaks Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 6 yards (2 ...

winner, Why Hurry. Sizing Europe was offered for sale as a foal at the

Tattersalls Tattersalls (formerly Tattersall's) is the main auctioneer of race horses in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Founding It was founded in 1766 by Richard Tattersall (1724–1795), who had been stud groom to the second Duke of Kingston. T ...

Ireland sale in November 2002 and was bought for €9000 by the bloodstock agent Hugh Bleahen. He entered the ownership of Ann and Alan Potts and was sent into training with

Henry de Bromhead Henry de Bromhead (born 28 October 1972) is an Irish horse trainer who specialises in training horses for National Hunt racing. He has trained a number of Grade 1 winners including Sizing John and Honeysuckle, and is based at stables in Knockeen, ...

County Waterford County Waterford ( ga, Contae Phort Láirge) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster and is part of the South-East Region, Ireland, South-East Region. It is named ...

Racing career

Early career

Sizing Europe made his racing debut as a four-year-old in a

National Hunt Flat race National Hunt flat races, informally known as bumper races, are a type of flat racing but run under National Hunt racing rules in Britain and Ireland. National Hunt flat races were created on 15 July 1891 when a conference between the stewards of ...

Leopardstown Leopardstown () is a suburb of Dublin in Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, within the traditional County Dublin, Ireland. Located at the foot of the Dublin Mountains, it is a residential suburb with institutional lands and a large racecourse. It is di ...

, where he was second to De Valira. He ran in a similar event at

Limerick Limerick ( ; ga, Luimneach ) is a western city in Ireland situated within County Limerick. It is in the province of Munster and is located in the Mid-West which comprises part of the Southern Region. With a population of 94,192 at the 2016 ...

for a fifth-place finish before winning at

Naas Naas ( ; ga, Nás na Ríogh or ) is the county town of County Kildare in Ireland. In 2016, it had a population of 21,393, making it the second largest town in County Kildare after Newbridge. History The name of Naas has been recorded in th ...

. With a victory under his belt, he was switched to hurdling. Sizing Europe made a winning debut over hurdles in the City Inn Maiden Hurdle at Newbury in November. Sent off at 8/1, he beat the 2/1 favourite Carlitos by three quarters of a length. The

Queen Queen or QUEEN may refer to: Monarchy * Queen regnant, a female monarch of a Kingdom ** List of queens regnant * Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king * Queen dowager, the widow of a king * Queen mother, a queen dowager who is the mother ...

's horse Barber Shop was fourteen lengths away in third. He then finished behind De Valira in two Grade 2 novice hurdles at

and

Fairyhouse Fairyhouse Racecourse is a horse racing venue in the Republic of Ireland. It is situated in the parish of Ratoath in County Meath, on the R155 road, R155 Regional road (Ireland), regional road, off the N3 road (Ireland), N3. It hosted its first ...

, before beating future

Champion Chase The Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. As part of a sponsorship agreement with the onli ...

winner Big Zeb in a race at

Punchestown Punchestown Racecourse is located in the parish of Eadestown, between the R410 and R411 regional roads near Naas, County Kildare, in Ireland. It is known as the home of Irish Jumps Racing and plays host to the annual Punchestown Irish Nationa ...

. He was afterwards put away for the autumn.

2007/2008 National Hunt Season: Hurdling

Sizing Europe's campaign got off to a rocky start when he fell at the second last flight in a Listed hurdle at

. He rebounded in the

Greatwood Handicap Hurdle The Greatwood Hurdle is a Grade 3 National Hunt racing, National Hunt Hurdling (horse race), hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the Old Cour ...

where he beat the subsequent

Champion Hurdle The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a ...

second Osana by four lengths. This display boosted his position in the Champion Hurdle market. Sizing Europe further boosted his Champion Hurdle claims with a win in the Grade 1

in January. In the race, he beat dual Champion Hurdler Hardy Eustace by eight lengths and was promoted to favourite for the big race in March. In the

Champion Hurdle The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a ...

, Sizing Europe travelled well and seemed poised to challenge in the homestraight before weakening rapidly and being virtually pulled up by jockey

Andrew McNamara Andrew Ian McNamara (born 19 August 1959) is an Australian politician. He was a Labor member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland from 2001 to 2009, representing the district of Hervey Bay. He served as Minister for Sustainability, Clima ...

. His trainer, Henry De Bromhead, later reported that the horse had injured his back.

2008/2009 National Hunt Season: Hurdling

Sizing Europe returned in November in the Grade 1

Maplewood Developments Hurdle The Morgiana Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles and half a furlong ...

, where he finished second to Hardy Eustace. He then ran in the Grade 1

December Festival Hurdle The December Festival Hurdle, currently known by its sponsored title of the Matheson Hurdle, is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is ...

and finished fifth behind 2007

Champion Hurdle The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a ...

winner

Sublimity In aesthetics, the sublime (from the Latin '' sublīmis'') is the quality of greatness, whether physical, moral, intellectual, metaphysical, aesthetic, spiritual, or artistic. The term especially refers to a greatness beyond all possibility ...

. Sizing Europe missed the 2009 Champion Hurdle due to injury and ran one last time over hurdles in the

Punchestown Champion Hurdle The Punchestown Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 metres), and during ...

, where he finished fourth behind multiple Grade 1 winner

Solwhit Solwhit (foaled on April 17, 2004 in France) was a French-bred, Irish-trained thoroughbred racehorse. A specialist hurdler, he competed in National Hunt races. He died on 7 November 2014 following a fall whilst schooling in Tipperary. Backgrou ...

and Champion Hurdler Punjabi.

2009/2010 National Hunt Season: Novice chasing

Sizing Europe was then switched to fences for a novice chasing campaign. He first won a beginners chase at

in May before progressing to a win in the Grade 3 Buck House Novice Chase, where he beat Grade 1 hurdler

Harchibald Harchibald (foaled in 1999 in France) is a retired French-bred, Irish-trained thoroughbred racehorse. Background Harchibald was sired by the stallion Perugino out of the mare Dame D’Harvard. He was owned by DP Sharkey, trained by Noel Meade ...

by seventeen lengths. Sizing Europe next won the Grade 2 Craddockstown Novice Chase at Punchestown, bringing his tally over fences to three out of three. The Grade 1 Bord Na Mona Novice Chase saw a clash between Sizing Europe (evens favourite), 2008

Supreme Novices' Hurdle The Supreme Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of a ...

winner Captain Cee Bee and former Champion Hurdle runner up Osana. Sizing Europe led turning into the straight, but Captain Cee Bee appeared to be travelling the better. However, that rival fell at the last, leaving Sizing Europe to win by over five lengths from Osana. Despite the result of the Bord Na Mona Novice Chase, Captain Cee Bee was sent off the 5/2 favourite in the Arkle Challenge Trophy at

, with Sizing Europe rated a 6/1 shot. He raced prominently throughout, took the lead two out, and held off the late charge of Grade 1 winner Somersby. Sizing Europe ended his season by taking on more experienced chasers in the Grade 1

Punchestown Champion Chase The Punchestown Champion Chase, currently known for sponsorship purposes as the William Hill Champion Chase, is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is r ...

, where he finished third behind Golden Silver and 2009 Arkle winner Forpadydeplasterer.

2010/2011 National Hunt season: Chasing

Sizing Europe started off his second chasing season in the Grade 3 Star Chase over 2 miles 7 furlongs, with a view to stepping up to staying chases and perhaps a crack at the

Cheltenham Gold Cup The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race run on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse in England, over a distance of about 3 miles 2½ furlongs ( ...

. However, he lost to China Rock by seven lengths. In his next race, he took on the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner

Kauto Star Kauto Star (19 March 2000 – 29 June 2015) was a French-bred National Hunt champion racehorse trained by Paul Nicholls in Somerset and owned by Clive Smith. He was known for his versatility and longevity, being the only horse ever to be top ...

in the Grade 1 JNwine.com Champion Chase over three miles. Kauto Star won by four lengths. The plan had been for Sizing Europe to tackle the prestigious

King George VI Chase The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of ...

over three miles at Kempton on

Boxing Day Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated after Christmas Day, occurring on the second day of Christmastide (26 December). Though it originated as a holiday to give gifts to the poor, today Boxing Day is primarily known as a shopping holiday. It ...

, but when that race was postponed due to frost, he was rerouted to the Grade 2

Tied Cottage Chase The Tied Cottage Chase was a Grade 2 National Hunt steeplechase that takes place in Ireland. It was run at Punchestown Racecourse in late January or early February each year, over a distance of 2 miles with 11 fences. The race ...

over two miles. He finished third behind Golden Silver and multiple Grade 1 winner Big Zeb. Sizing Europe was kept at two miles for his next start in the Grade 1

at the

Cheltenham Festival The Cheltenham Festival is a horse racing-based meeting in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, with race prize money second only to the Grand National. The four-day festival takes place annually in March at Cheltenham Rac ...

in March. Amongst the opposition were dual Champion Chase winner

Master Minded {{Infobox racehorse , horsename = Master Minded , image_name = Master Minded.jpg , caption = Master Minded at Sandown in 2011. , sire = Nikos , grandsire = Nonoalco , dam = Haute Tension , damsire = Garde Royale , sex = Gelding , foaled ...

, 2010 winner Big Zeb, and Golden Silver. Tracking the leader throughout, Sizing Europe jumped to the front at the seventh fence and finished strongly to beat Big Zeb by five lengths. In a historic race, Irish horses occupied the first four places. In his final race of the season, Sizing Europe was beaten by Big Zeb in the

, losing by three quarters of a length after being overtaken at the final fence.

2011/2012 National Hunt season: Chasing

Sizing Europe started off his campaign in the Grade 2

Gowran Park Champion Chase The Gowran Park Champion Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Gowran Park over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs (4,023 me ...

over 2 miles 4 furlongs. He held off Coolcashin to win by 1.75 lengths with Grade 1 winner Rubi Light far behind in third. He then tackled the JNwine.com Champion Chase for the second year in a row, but, on very soft ground, his stamina gave out in the final furlong and he was passed by the staying on

Quito De La Roque Quito (; qu, Kitu), formally San Francisco de Quito, is the capital and largest city of Ecuador, with an estimated population of 2.8 million in its urban area. It is also the capital of the province of Pichincha. Quito is located in a valley on ...

. Sizing Europe rebounded with a win in the Grade 1

Tingle Creek Chase The Tingle Creek Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 2 miles (1 mil ...

over two miles at

Sandown Sandown is a seaside resort and civil parishes in England, civil parish on the south-east coast of the Isle of Wight, United Kingdom with the resort of Shanklin to the south and the settlement of Lake, Isle of Wight, Lake in between. Together ...

. He defeated Kauto Star's half brother Kauto Stone by eight lengths as the 11/8 favourite. He then won the Grade 2

, gaining revenge on Big Zeb in a three-runner race and being cut to 6/4 for the Champion Chase. Sizing Europe was sent off the 4/5F in the

and was beaten just over a length in a controversial running. Front runner Wishfull Thinking fell at the fourth fence (the last one the final circuit) and crashed through railings into a crowd of photographers. His jockey

Richard Johnson Richard or Dick Johnson may refer to: Academics * Dick Johnson (academic) (1929–2019), Australian academic * Richard C. Johnson (1930–2003), professor of electrical engineering * Richard A. Johnson, artist and professor at the University of ...

was still lying prone by the time the field had races round the course, so officials made the decision to bypass the fence. However, the signs were unclear, so Andrew Lynch on Sizing Europe and

Barry Geraghty Barry Geraghty (born 16 September 1979) is a retired Irish jockey. He is the second most successful jockey of all time at the Cheltenham Festival. Geraghty rode his first winner in January 1997 and three years later he became the Irish Champio ...

Finian's Rainbow ''Finian's Rainbow'' is a musical with a book by E. Y. Harburg and Fred Saidy, lyrics by Harburg, and music by Burton Lane, produced by Lee Sabinson. The original 1947 Broadway production ran for 725 performances, while a film version was re ...

were unsure of whether to jump it or not until very close to the fence. Both horses had to change course sharply, and some onlookers felt that Sizing Europe lost the most momentum, although Finian's Rainbow proved the result was no fluke with a win in the Grade 1

Melling Chase The Melling Chase, currently known for sponsorship purposes as the Marsh Chase, is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Ain ...

a few weeks later. Returning to Ireland, Sizing Europe won the

at the third attempt, holding off Grade 1 winner Realt Dubh by 2.25 lengths.

2012/2013 National Hunt season: Chasing

Sizing Europe again ran in the Grade 2

, winning by over seven lengths from Forpadydeplasterer. He followed up in the Grade 2

Clonmel Oil Chase The Clonmel Oil Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Clonmel over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs (2 mile ...

over the same distance, beating Magnaminity by twenty lengths. Sizing Europe dropped back to two miles for the Grade 1

Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase The Paddy's Reward Club Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland. It is run at Leopardstown Racecourse in December, over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong (3,420 metres) and during the ra ...

at the

Christmas Festival. He beat Rubi Light by two and a half lengths with Big Zeb back in fourth. He remained second favourite for the Champion Chase at 8/1. He prepped for Cheltenham with a second win in the

, where he beat Foildubh by ten lengths. This was his fourth consecutive win of the season. Henry De Bromhead originally entered Sizing Europe in the

Ryanair Chase The Ryanair Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 4½ furlongs ...

and

Cheltenham Gold Cup The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race run on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse in England, over a distance of about 3 miles 2½ furlongs ( ...

. Although he was withdrawn from the Gold Cup on 12 February, he was not committed to either of the other two races. On 11 March, Henry De Bromhead confirmed that Sizing Europe would face

Sprinter Sacre Sprinter Sacre (foaled 23 April 2006), is a French-bred, British-trained Selle Français racehorse. He currently has the third highest ever Timeform steeplechase rating of 192p, behind only Arkle on 212 and Flyingbolt on 210 as their highest in ...

in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. At the Cheltenham Festival, Sizing Europe finished second to the undefeated chaser

in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. He took the lead at the ninth fence but was passed by the younger horse three fences from home. Sizing Europe stumbled rounding the turn for home but stayed on to finish a clear second, albeit nineteen lengths behind the winner. Sizing Europe's final run of the season came in the Grade 1 Punchestown Champion Chase, where he again faced Sprinter Sacre, who had won the Grade 1

at Aintree in the meantime. Although Sizing Europe pushed Sprinter Sacre, the latter was victorious by five and a half lengths.

2013/2014 National Hunt season: Chasing

Sizing Europe made his seasonal debut in the Grade 2 Gowran Park Champion Chase, which he won for the third consecutive year, beating Arkle runner up Bailey Green by a length and a quarter. He then contested the Grade 1 JNWine. Com Champion Chase for the third time, but despite being sent off the 9/4 joint favourite, was beaten thirteen lengths by Roi Du Mee. Trainer Henry de Bromhead indicated that this would be the last time that Sizing Europe raced over three miles, and that the Dial-A-Bet Chase over two miles was his next target. In the Dial-A-Bet Chase, he started 11/4 second favourite, but after leading until the second last, he weakened in the closing stages and finished fourth behind Benefficient. On 12 March, Sizing Europe ran in his fourth consecutive Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. At twelve years old, he was the oldest horse in the field and started at odds of 11/1. He was in contention throughout the race and finished fourth behind Sire de Grugy, Somersby and Module. Sizing Europe ended his season in the Boylesports.com Champion Chase at Punchestown on 29 April when he started 7/1 third choice in the betting behind Hidden Cyclone and Somersby. He took the lead at the ninth of the eleven fences before going clear approaching the last and won by five and a half lengths from Ballynagour. After the race, Alan Potts described the horse as being "back to his brilliant best".

2014/2015 National Hunt season: Chasing

Once again, Sizing Europe began his season in the PWC Champion Chase at Gowran Park in October and started 9/4 second favourite behind the Galway Plate winner Road To Riches, to whom he was conceding four pounds. Ridden for the first time by Jonathan Burke, he raced just behind the leaders for most of the way before staying on strongly in the closing stages, overtaking Road To Riches in the final strides and winning by a head. After the race, de Bromhead said, "It was just incredible. It's like he's taking the Mickey, leaving it until the very end. He's still loving it and you can see there he's got the heart of a lion." In December Sizing Europe attempted to repeat his 2012 success in the Clonmel Oil Chase. After briefly reaching second place he faded in the closing stages and finished sixth of the seven runners behind

Champagne Fever Champagne Fever (foaled 26 May 2007) is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who competes in National Hunt racing. He is noted for his front-running style and has won seven of his thirteen races. After beginning his racing career on the amateur po ...

. Sizing Europe ran in the Queen Mother Champion Chase for the fifth time on 11 March 2015, for which his opponents included Sprinter Sacre and Sire de Grugy.

Pedigree

References

{{Reflist, 2

External links

Career 1-2-3 Colour Chart
– ''Sizing Europe'' 2002 racehorse births Racehorses bred in Ireland Racehorses trained in Ireland Cheltenham Festival winners National Hunt racehorses Thoroughbred family 14-b