Jn wine chase down royal

[Guest]

The forgotten giggy chaser .....


Quito De La Roque is set to attempt to defend his crown in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal on 3 November.
Colm Murphy's charge got up close home to deny Sizing Europe in the three-mile feature but only ran once more last term, when third to Synchronised in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown in late December.
"More than likely we'll start him in Down Royal again in the race he won last year.*He seems well and is probably a bit more forward this year than last year. We had a good few stop starts," Murphy told At The Races.
"All's going well and fingers crossed he stays well for the next couple of weeks.
"I suppose we'll be looking at the obvious races like Leopardstown at Christmas and so forth.
"There was a lot of talk last year and we did plenty of dreaming about him.
"I think we'll take it race by race. He's had his fair share of problems and if he doesn't have any recurrence of those, you'd be hopeful of going for some of the better staying chases."

[mayo]

another from giggy team

First Lieutenant is likely to start next in the Grade One JN Wine Champion Chase at Down Royal at the start of next month. The Michael O’Leary-owned star could finish only fourth to Sizing Europe on his seasonal reappearance at Gowran but trainer Mouse Morris said yesterday: “He’s come out of the race fine and I think he’ll come on a ton. He was very rusty on the day but he should improve a lot.”

[Rhinestone Cowboy]

Really gets going next week. Love this time of year.

[Rhinestone Cowboy]

(2:25) 299D JNwine.com Champion S'chase (Grade 1)
€84,000.00 ( 3m - 5yo+ )[MAX 18]
NHFrm
05113 1 Bob Lingo(151) (TMullins) - . .............. 11,10
2 Cannington Brook (CTizzard (in GB)) - . ......................... 11,10
-32b0 3 Chicago Grey(145) (GElliott) - . .......... 11,10
2-234 4 First Lieutenant(154) (MFMorris) - . ... 11,10
412p4 5 Follow The Plan(158) (OMcKiernan) - . .................................. 11,10
127-3 6 Joncol(153) (PNolan) - . ...................... 11,10
-731- 7 Kauto Stone (FR) (PNicholls (in GB)) - . ......................... 11,10
6pp52 8 Magnanimity(140) (DTHughes) - . ...... 11,10
1113- 9 Quito De La Roque (FR)(160) (CAMurphy) - . ............. 11,10
2-520 10 Realt Dubh(160) (NMeade) - . ............ 11,10
35851 11 Roi Du Mee (FR)(148) (GElliott) - . ..... 11,10
-1211 12 Sizing Europe(171) (Hde Bromhead) . 11,10

[Rhinestone Cowboy]

Last year's winner Quito De La Roque remains on course to defend his title in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal on Saturday.

Colm Murphy's eight-year-old has not been seen since finishing third to the ill-fated Synchronised in the Lexus Chase in December.

Owner's Gigginstown House Stud are well represented with First Lieutenant, who is also entered at Wetherby, Magnanimity and Roi Du Mee all among the 12 remaining entries.

Sizing Europe remains a possible for Henry de Bromhead. He looked all over the winner last year before being headed close home.

Colin Tizzard's Cannington Brook and Paul Nicholls' Kauto Stone, a winner on the card last year, are the British entries.

Joncol, Follow The Plan, Bob Lingo, Realt Dubh and Chicago Grey are also still engaged.

[Sprinter]

Will realt dubh stay ?

[postmanpat]

Richard Dunwoody

Over in Ireland the JNwine.com Champion Chase is the feature contest at Down Royal and at this stage of the week last year’s winner Quito De La Roque is still entered. He’ll love it if the ground comes up soft again like last year and despite clearly having his problems since running third in the Lexus Chase (his last race) over Christmas he’ll still be popular.

Although not a certain runner, Sizing Europe, who was runner-up 12 months ago, could also take his chance again in the race, but, for me, despite being the best horse he’s still got to prove he can win over this 3m trip with all his career victories to date coming over 2 ½ m or shorter.

The final thing to note is keep an eye if Paul Nicholls sends anything over to run. He’s targeted this prize with success three times in the last 5 seasons, and his overall record at Down Royal in recent years reads a hugely impressive 6-from-8 (75%) – at this stage he’s got Kauto Stone engaged.

[mayo]

Henry de Bromhead will keep an eye on the weather at Down Royal before committing Sizing Europe to a run in Saturday's JNwine.com Champion Chase.
The trainer's 2011 Queen Mother Champion Chase hero has finished second in the three-mile feature for the last two years.
Behind Kauto Star in 2010, his defeat by Quito De La Roque 12 months ago was put down to the testing ground.
De Bromhead is reluctant to run Sizing Europe in such conditions again.
He said: "We've said we wouldn't run him unless the ground was pretty good. I've been talking to Mike Todd, the manager there (Down Royal), and he says it's good to soft.
"Unfortunately there's rain forecast on Wednesday so he wants to wait until then before he says any more.
"You'd have to feel the ground played a part in his defeat last year. It was soft to heavy.
"I don't want him to go through something like that again - we'd love to see him over three miles on good ground."
The Co Waterford trainer continued: "In November we might look at the Fortria Chase or the Clonmel Oil Chase and for his Christmas run the three options we are looking at are obviously the King George (at Kempton), the two-mile chase in Leopardstown and the Lexus there."

[Rhinestone Cowboy]

Down Royal 14:25 JNwine.com Champion Chase

SIZING EUROPE lost his Champion Chase crown to Finian's Rainbow at Cheltenham but bounced back in typical fashion to land the Irish equivalent at Punchestown from today's rival Realt Dubh. He reappeared with another impressive victory over 2m4f at Gowran, the race he won a year ago before finishing runner-up in this for the second time. Connections appear convinced he'll stay three miles and a four-length defeat by Kauto Star in 2010 was hardly a poor run though he was outstayed from the last by Quito De La Roque last year. Slightly quicker ground conditions this time should enable him to last home and finally get a 3m victory under his belt. The winner wasn't seen out again after finishing third behind Synchronised in the Lexus in December and though Paul Nicholls loves this race and believes Kauto Stone will go well, he has yet to prove himself at this level over this trip. First Lieutenant was behind the selection at Gowran last time but badly needed the run and his close second to Bobs Worth in the RSA Chase showed that this should be his trip.

[Rhinestone Cowboy]

ockey Andrew Lynch is praying the rain stays away from Down Royal to enable Sizing Europe to show his best form over three miles in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal.

Henry de Bromhead's 10-year-old has been second in the race for the last two seasons, to Kauto Star and Quito De La Roque, as connections attempt to stretch his stamina.

The last two renewals have been run in testing conditions and have proved a stiff task for Sizing Europe, who is one of the best two-mile chasers around.

However, his connections remain convinced he will stay three miles on good ground and he certainly was not stopping over two and a half miles on his reappearance at Gowran, brushing aside smart performers like Forpadydeplasterer and First Lieutenant.

Lynch said: "As long as the ground is OK, I can't wait to get back up on him. He's such a good horse, whatever trip you run him at. He's an honest horse with a big heart, but you'd like to run him on good ground over three miles.

"As long as we can win a Grade One or Two with him this year, I'll be very happy."

Paul Nicholls used this race as a starting point for Kauto Star in 2008 and 2010 and he was also successful with Taranis in 2007. With Kauto Star, Denman and Neptune Collongesl retired, he is looking for a successor and Kauto Stone, a half-brother to Kauto Star, was a winner on the card 12 months ago.

He ran a good race to finish second to Sizing Europe in the Tingle Creek over two miles, but failed to hit the same heights in three subsequent starts.

Nicholls said: "He has not run over three miles before, but we thought it would suit him. He does go well fresh and he ran well there last year. He seems to train off in the spring for some reason. He ran well last autumn when he won at Down Royal and was second in the Tingle Creek, and lost his way a little bit.

"He looks great at the moment so I'm hoping being fresh will help him again. He just needs to relax and not tear off in front. We've tried to train him a bit differently this year. We just hope to get him out of his French way of running."

[Rhinestone Cowboy]

Quito De La Roque goes for a repeat victory in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal after staying on powerfully to catch Sizing Europe in the Grade One contest 12 months ago.

Colm Murphy felt the hard race took its toll as he only ran once more, but he has been happier with the eight-year-old in the build-up this season and feels it is a boost that Davy Russell has chosen to ride him over First Lieutenant.

"He seems well and we've been very happy with him, so it's fingers crossed," said Murphy.

"He's had much the same build-up as last year, but last year he had a few little issues that he hasn't had this time. It's his first run back for a while and he might not be quite 100%, so we're happy that the ground isn't heavy.

"I think, even though he won last year, he paid the penalty as it took an awful lot out of him. He might be just a little bit more forward this season, so hopefully it won't take as much out of him. We're hoping for a good run, but there's plenty of quality in there.

"I'm delighted Davy chose ours - it always helps to have the champion jockey on your side."

Mouse Morris had a late change of heart regarding First Lieutenant and decided to keep him in Ireland rather than send him to to Wetherby for the Charlie Hall Chase.

He was one of the best novice chasers either side of the Irish Sea last term, as he showed when beaten by only Bobs Worth in the RSA Chase. Morris expects him to strip fitter for his run behind Sizing Europe at Gowran and he will be ridden for the first time by the in-form Bryan Cooper.

The handler said: "The ground should be fine for him. There is a little bit of soft in it on half the track, but it's not too bad at all. The horse is well and he's come on a good bit for his last run. We're putting the cheekpieces on him to help him concentrate and I'll be disappointed if he doesn't run a big race."

Both horses are owned by Gigginstown House Stud, whose racing manager Eddie O'Leary said: "People think Quito wants it soft, but when he won at Aintree that was the best he's ever travelled, so I think the better ground will suit him. We've put the cheekpieces on First Lieutenant just to sharpen up his jumping."

[Hoof]

For the third time in as many years, Sizing Europe will, ground permitting, try to scale the three-mile mountain in today's JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal.

In the past two renewals of the €140,000 Grade One, he has been undone only by the mighty Kauto Star and a valiant effort from Quito De La Roque. However, for all that, the ground should be more suitable than when Henry de Bromhead's star two-miler was overhauled agonisingly late on 12 months ago, this will still be a dour test.

While the willingness of de Bromhead and Sizing Europe's owner Alan Potts to take such a good horse outside his comfort zone is to be applauded, on the other hand it is hard to see exactly where such a strategy might lead. The 10-year-old former Arkle and Champion Chase hero, controversially denied his Cheltenham Festival hat-trick last March, is one of the very best two-mile chasers that this country has produced.

He looked on fine terms with himself when scoring over two and a half miles under Andrew Lynch at Gowran Park last month, but his efforts here in 2010 and 2011 suggest that, while he might stay three, he isn't nearly as effective over it. Moreover, with a high-class bunch of second-season chasers emerging, he will struggle to make an impact in marquee staying events such as the King George VI Chase and Cheltenham Gold Cup.

By the same token, when you recall how badly he laboured from the last fence 12 months ago, it's not hard to oppose him now.

Quito De La Roque is the obvious alternative, with Davy Russell opting for Colm Murphy's eight-year-old over fellow Gigginstown-owned First Lieutenant. A bad sinus problem kept him off the track after finishing third to the subsequent Gold Cup winner Synchronised in the Lexus Chase last year, but Murphy will have him ready.

Tom Mullins' Galway Plate winner Bob Lingo shouldn't be up to this, nor Paul Nicholls' Kauto Stone, which won the card's Grade Two in 2011. With Realt Dubh another better over shorter, then, the Paul Nolan-trained Joncol appeals at up to 12/1.

A dual Grade One winner, the nine-year-old has been beset by injury since bagging a famous Hennessy Gold Cup triumph in 2010, but there was plenty to like about his reappearance third at Punchestown last month. On his first start for 10 months, he was ultimately unable to land a clean punch on the cannily ridden, race-fit Roi Du Mee.

Nonetheless, Joncol boxed on gamely all the way home. If he can build on that now for his in-form stable, the gigantic Robbie Power-ridden slogger could go very close.

In the Ladbrokes.com Chase, Tony Martin's Russell-ridden Bog Warrior, a runaway winner of last year's Drinmore Chase, can account for Paul Nicholls' Cristal Bonus, with the nap vote going to John Nicholson's progressive mare Great Oak in the Tayto Group Handicap Hurdle.

Four times a winner and twice a runner-up in six starts over fences and on the Flat since June, Mark Enright's mount reverts to the smaller obstacles off a mark of 93 that has the potential to prove extremely favourable.

[Hoof]

Kauto Stone Pricewise

[Old Vic]

Sizing Europe NR

[mayo]

Gary

The absence of ante-post favourite Sizing Europe from this afternoon’s JNWine.com Champion Chase is a major blow to the team at Down Royal but the €140,000 highlight of the northern track’s calendar still promises plenty of excitement.

Quito de la Roque, who outstayed Henry de Bromhead’s former champion chaser in last year’s renewal of the 3m contest, is perhaps the most interesting of the octet who remain and Colm Murphy’s eight year-old has apparently been chosen by owner Gigginstown House Stud’s retained jockey Davy Russell ahead of First Lieutenant. However this will be no easy task on what will be his first outing since taking third behind ill-fated Gold Cup hero Synchronised in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown last Christmas and marginal preference is for Realt Dubh on his first attempt over today’s trip. Noel Meade enjoyed a fine double on yesterday’s card and his representative here, who boasts high class form over shorter distances, promises to stay today’s longer journey.

Paul Nicholls saddles Kauto Stone, who gave his stable a fourth successive win in the Ladbrokes.com Chase on last year’s card, and the British champion trainer can maintain his stranglehold on the €50,000 Grade 2 event which follows the day’s highlight with Cristal Bonus. A useful novice last season, the French import put a below-par effort at the Cheltenham Festival behind him when chasing home Menorah at Aintree on his final start and is sure to be fit enough for this reappearance.

Dessie Hughes has his team in tremendous form at the moment and the Kildare handler could ‘bookend’ today’s card with Art Of Logistics and Apache Jack. The pair actually ran in the same bumper at the Punchestown Festival won by Grand Jesture, a race that has worked out extremely well, finishing fourth and sixth respectively. The former has since gone on to bolt up at Roscommon and should be very hard to beat in the opening maiden hurdle, while his stable-companion – a full-brother to Black Jack Ketchum – appeals as a value alternative to hotpot Silver Tassie in the finale.

Selections
12.45 Art Of Logistics 10/11
1.15 Robbie McMahon 7/1
1.45 Thomas Edison 12/1
2.25 Realt Dubh 9/2
3.00 Cristal Bonus 7/4
3.35 Linnel 11/2
4.05 Apache Jack 7/1