Sizing is Champ as Irish dominate

Sizing Europe produced the highlight of an amazing afternoon for the Irish at Cheltenham when taking the sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase in great style - just one of an unprecedented six Irish-trained winners on the day.

Ridden by Andrew Lynch and trained by Henry de Bromhead, the same combination successful with Sizing Australia in the Cross Country Chase yesterday, the gelding was always close to the pace.

The 10/1 chnace was challenged in the straight by last year's winner Big Zeb (3/1) but he found plenty after the last to score by five lengths. Captain Cee Bee (14/1) was another four lengths away in third, with Golden Silver completing the first four placings for Irish-trained horses.

There was a huge plunge on Master Minded, backed on course from 7/2 down to 2/1 favourite, but he was being niggled along when making a bad blunder two out.

Lynch said: "I'm delighted and 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, but he's a hardy boy.

"Henry always said he wanted a strongly-run, two-mile race, and this is the only race all year that suits him."

De Bromhead said: "He's a good horse to have around and it's been an unbelievable week. This fellow was electric and Andrew gave him a brilliant ride again. The horse is amazing and we have a great team behind us."