With this year’s Champion Hurdle being wide open, the improving Sizing Europe is emerging as a true contender. As expected, the old boy Hardy Eustace cut out the running, in the hands of regular pilot Connor O´Dwyer, but he never looked as though he was doing enough to shake off the stalking Sizing Europe and, when it came to the business end of things, all Andrew McNamara had to do was push the button.

Leopardstown was also the host of the Grade 2 Baileys Arkle Perpetual Challenge Novice Chase, the winner Thyne Again benefiting for the departure of hot favourite Scotsirish. Still relatively unexposed, his performances have been improving nicely and he may take his chance at Cheltenham. The Grade 2 Toshiba Novices’ Hurdle turned into a thriller with Liskennett coming out on top by a neck from Siegemaster and Our Bob.

Over at Kempton, trainer Jamie Osbourne and jockey Tom Queally landed a nice low key double with Ten Down in the opening claimer and then Not Now Lewis in the mile handicap. Both needed the full assistance of the talented rider who still remains a jockey that does not get the credit he deserves.

Trainer Michael Jarvis has his string firing earlier than usual. Ski Sunday, in the hands of Steve Drowne, made light work of his handicap mark by beating Arabesque Dancer by a comfortable length and three quarters.

Odds on punters took a bit of a beating in the next when Simpsons Gamble, on his twenty fifth start, broke his maiden picking up the 4/9 Waqaarr and Sovereignty has become a real all weather specialist winning his fifth race, as has Bazroy who has now won on three of the four synthetic surfaces.