Lynch storms to Champion Chase with Sizing Europe

Ashbourne jockey Andrew Lynch enjoyed another big winner at the Cheltenham Festival when he won the Champion Chase in great style with Sizing Europe last Wednesday, one of six Irish-trained winners on the day. Trained by Henry de Bromhead, Sizing Europe was always close to the pace although challenged in the straight by last year's winner Big Zeb and Barry Geraghty. Lynch's charge found plenty after the last to score by five lengths with Captain Cee Bee four lengths away in third and another Irish horse, Golden Silver in fourth. The favourite, Master Minded, was being niggled along by Ruby Walsh when making a bad blunder two out. Lynch had his first winner at Cheltenham last year and recorded a double this time around. "I'm delighted, the horse jumped an awful lot better today, he travelled really well and I was afraid something might just quicken past me up the straight," he remarked. "Henry always said he wanted a strongly-run, two-mile race, and this is the only race all year that suited him," added the Meath jockey. There was a real Meath flavour to the finish of the Cross Country Chase on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival when Lynch edged out Nina Carberry as Irish horses filled the first three places. Lynch partnered the De Bromhead-trained Sizing Australia to win from the gallant Garde Champetre under a big weight with last year's winner A New Story a close third. "Last year we were unlucky when we were knocked over turning in, but he's very gutsy, he's only a young horse compared to Grade Champetre and he jumps for fun," said Lynch. "I told Andrew to ride him however he wants and it just shows you should leave it to the jockey," remarked the trainer. Jockey Barry Geraghty received a one day suspension for causing interference with runner-up Carole's Legacy behind Bensalem in the third race on Tuesday, a handicap chase. Bobs Worth gave Geraghty his only winner on Friday in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle. Trim-based trainer Gordon Elliott enjoyed a double at the Cheltenham Festival where Chicago Grey won the National Hunt Chase and Carlito Brigante landed the Coral Cup. Carlito Brigante, in the colours of Michael O'Leary, had just taken it up when making a mistake at the last, but jockey Davy Russell benefited when For Non Stop fell at that flight. "It's been brilliant, the horses have all been running great, but it's not just down to me, it's the owners and the staff, it's everyone," said Elliott who also won with Chicago Grey for his first winner at the Festival. Elliott has Gold Cup ambitions for Jessies Dream after a second place finish in the RSA Chase for owner David Johnson, but Punchestown is next on the agenda. The Summerhill man will also be focused on Aintree next month when Backstage, which has been in winning form on the point-to-point scene, will bid for the Grand National. Twelve months ago Backstage unseated his rider when going well at Aintree and has since had a wind operation. Castletown trainer Noel Meade saw Realt Dubh finish third in the Arkle Chase on Tuesday while Pandorama finished out of the frame in Friday's Gold Cup.