Big Zeb and Sizing Europe confirmed for rematch in Boylesports.com Chase
Big Zeb 4/6 and Sizing Europe 5/4 with sponsors
Full televised coverage of RBS Six Nations Available
High quality Cheltenham Trials Support Card
Track is currently raceable as covers prove worthwhile
Sunday’s Boylesports.com Chase Day at Punchestown is sizing up to be a great sporting event with both Sizing Europe and Big Zeb confirmed for the feature race of the day.
The much anticipated clash of the top two mile chasers goes to post in the Grade 2 Boylesports.com Tied Cottage Chase at 2.55pm and with only one other challenger in the form of Oliver Brady’s Imperial Shabra the race is reminiscent of the match between Dawn Run and Buck House of 1986. Last season Sizing Europe appeared the dominant force of the two when landing the Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March only to be overturned by Big Zeb in a thriller at the Punchestown Festival in a race also sponsored by Boylesports. So far this season both have impressed on their respective outings although this will be their first meeting of this campaign.
Sunday’s high quality seven race card is commonly considered a Cheltenham trials day with one of only two Irish run Pertemps Hurdle qualifiers, the Grade 2 Racing UK Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle and of course the spectators favourite the Glenfarclas PP Hogan Cross Country Race taking place.
Commenting on the effects of the current cold snap Punchestown Racing Manager Richie Galway said “The covers are down and have been since Tuesday. It’s a labour intensive initiative but if it is the difference between racing going ahead or being abandoned it is well worth the effort. It takes a team of 20 men a full day to get the covers into position. Galway continued by saying “The hurdle and chase tracks are currently raceable and we are confident, based on the forecast, that there won’t be any problems for Sunday. The cross country track is run over such an expanse it is not feasible to cover it. At present there are a small number of areas that are unraceable, however, if the milder temperatures arrive as forecast and given that we have moved the race to late in the day we are very hopeful”.
Directly after presentations are made to the winning connections of the Boylesports.com Chase full televised coverage of the RBS six nations match between Ireland and Wales will be available throughout the enclosures.
In addition to top class racing action there will also be a full schedule of family entertainment with The Eadestown Spring Show running alongside the sporting action. Kildare GAA star Emmet Bolton will be on hand to take part in a penalty shoot- out with some of the top jockeys in the parade ring. A full craft fair and field day games programme will be underway in the trackside unit with all proceeds going to the Eadestown GAA and Parish Fund.
• Official prices from Boylesports.com:
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Boylesports.com Tied Cottage Chase:
4/6 Big Zeb
5/4 Sizing Europe
100/1 Imperial Shabra
The first of seven races goes to post at 1.20. Admission is just €10 or €7 students and seniors. All children under 14 race for free.
1.20: Eadestown GAA & Parish Fair Maiden Hurdle – 2m 4 f
1.50 – Racing UK Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle – 2 m
2.20 – Pertemps H’cap H’dle – 3m
2.55 – Boylesports.com Tied Cottage Chase – 2m
3.25 – Dobbins and Madigans National Trial H’cap Chase – 3m 4 f
3.55 – Glenfarclas PP Hogan Memorial S’chase – 3m
4.25 – AIRO (Pro-Am) INH Flat – 2m
Visit http://www.goracing.ie/HRI/Fixtures-and-Results/Fixtures/ for full entries. Visit www.boylesports.com for prices.
The Punchestown Festival takes place from Tuesday 24th to Saturday 28th April 2012. Please visit www.punchestown.com for further information.