SIZING EUROPE will aim to put a smile back on the faces of the Irish in this afternoon’s sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.20pm) at the Cheltenham Festival.

With Hurricane Fly having succumbed to a shock defeat in the Stan James Champion Hurdle yesterday, the armada of punters over from the Emerald Isle are expected to pile in to Henry de Bromhead’s Festival star.

Winner of the Arkle two years ago, Sizing Europe was a brilliant five-length victor of the two mile Champion Chase 12 months ago - leading a clean sweep for Irish horses who claimed all four places.

Having disappointed at Down Royal last November, the ten-year-old has been electric since in claiming the Tingle Creek and crushing Big Zeb, one of his major rivals today, at Punchestown.

He looks the one to beat with only his age, Badsworth Boy in 1985 was the last horse to retain this race as a ten-year-old, counting against him.

Finian’s Rainbow is a sound jumper on his day and open to more improvement, while it would be premature to completely write off Big Zeb, but Sizing Europe is a worthy favourite.

Grands Crus gave Big Buck’s a run for his money in last year’s World Hurdle and, having gone chasing, David Pipe’s talented grey goes for the RSA Chase (2.40pm) rather than taking a stab at Friday’s Gold Cup.

Punters should take the hint. The seven-year-old, who will be ridden by Tom Scudamore, has looked a natural over the bigger obstacles - particularly when winning the Feltham Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

If he can recreate that display, with the likes of Bobs Worth - who re-opposes today - behind him then, it will need a spectacular performance to stop him.

First Lieutenant, who will get his preferred quicker ground and should enjoy the trip, is his main danger.

Only Scackleton-based jockey Jacqueline Coward, who rode Wedger Pardy to third in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, had any joy for the North Yorkshire racing fraternity yesterday, and they will hope for better this afternoon.

Norton trainer Brian Ellison craves a Cheltenham success and he saddles Abergavenny in the ultra-competitive Coral Cup (4pm).

A stayer over the Flat, he ran a cracking race in the Greatwood Hurdle here in November and is only five pounds higher for that.

Jumped into Pattern company in his subsequent two starts over hurdles, he hasn’t quite made the grade but a bumper win in between reveals he still has a lot of ability.

Royal Bonsai has swerved a shot at the Triumph Hurdle to line up in the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle (4.40pm) and Norton trainer John Quinn’s horse has a chance on bare form.

The four-year-old comes into this extended two mile contest on the back of a trio of wins over hurdles with a Grade Two success at Doncaster in December the highlight.

Quinn, who has former Crambeck jockey Dougie Costello in the saddle, says the quickening ground won’t hurt Royal Bonsai’s chances and he believes his horse is in with a shout.

Nawton’s David O’Meara has made huge strides in his career as a Flat trainer and he looks for some Cheltenham glory with Ifandbutwhynot in the closing Weatherbys Champion Bumper (5.15pm).

Fourth in a Listed race at Ascot in December, the six-year-old won a bumper at Newcastle a month before and is likely to go off at long odds under Denis O’Regan.

Whatever happens this afternoon, Cheltenham chiefs will merely be hoping the horses come home safe after three lost their lives yesterday.

Garde Champetre and Scotsirish were both put down after breaking legs on the flat during the Glenfarclas Chase, while Educated Evans also died after falling in the novice handicap.