Sizing Rio and Andrew Lynch at the second last in Tipperary© Photo Healy Racing
A lovely quick jump at the fourth last took Sizing Rio into the lead in the beginners chase at Tipperary, and it was a lead he wouldn’t relinquish.
Sizing Rio put in a good display of jumping in this two and a half mile race and indeed his main danger was the loose horse Lisclogher Lad who jumped very close to him at several fences. Lisclogher Lad had fallen at the fourth.
When Andrew Lynch popped the last on the 9/10 favourite he had six lengths to spare over Benevolent (11/1) who stayed on for second past Letter Of Credit (5/1).
Jimmy Mangan’s Letter Of Credit had been a market mover from 13/2 to 4/1 earlier in the day, so each way punters lived to fight another day.
Sizing Rio looks an exciting graduate to the chasing ranks after reaching Grade 3 standard over hurdles.
Henry De Bromhead trains the five-year-old for Alan and Ann Potts and he said: “I was so looking forward to seeing him over fences.
“Andrew said he really struggled on that ground. He’ll be much better on better ground. I was delighted he saw it out well and he jumped great.
“He’s definitely finished for the summer. We might bring him back for Listowel in September as he wants a bit of better ground.”
This was Henry De Bromhead's sixth winner from his last 18 runners.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
