Lynch rues Champion luck
Andrew Lynch believes the last-fence omission in the Champion Chase cost him victory aboard Sizing Europe at Cheltenham.
Last Updated: 19/03/12 4:31pm
Andrew Lynch believes the omission of the final fence in the Queen Mother Champion Chase cost him his chance of victory on Sizing Europe.
Henry de Bromhead's charge lost his crown to Finian's Rainbow but after the early fall of Wishfull Thinking, Sizing Europe was left in front for most of the race.
One of his major assets is his jumping and Lynch is of the opinion he would have had a better chance of success had the pair had to jump the last obstacle.
"I've watched it an awful lot of times. It's just one of those things," said Lynch.
"There's no point getting annoyed about it now, what's done is done. It's a pity but you never know what might have happened.
"You'd like to think it cost us our chance but we'll never know.
"He jumped, he travelled and he seemed to be in great form, same as I rode him last year. The plan was to pick him up until the back of the last and go away again but it didn't work out like that.
"He's come out of the race well. Big Zeb is probably a bit better at Punchestown and it will be interesting if Nicky Henderson sends anything over.
"I'm looking forward to it anyway."
Lynch also received plenty of plaudits for his ride on Voler La Vedette in the World Hurdle but like so many others, she came up just short against Big Buck's.
"She ran a blinder. She's a very good mare. She was getting 7lb off Big Buck's and he's one of the best hurdlers I've ever seen," he told At The Races.
"If everything goes according to plan, it will be an interesting race against Quevega at Punchestown."