RACINGA COUPLE of last season's top novices take on their elders for the first time in today's €140,000 JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal but the most intriguing runner is the most proven starter, Sizing Europe.

Runner-up to Kauto Star last year in his sole career start to date at three miles, Sizing Europe then dropped down the distances to wind up a brilliant two mile champion at Cheltenham. It looked like Henry De Bromhead’s star had found his true metier. So what is he doing back at three miles?

De Bromhead hasn’t ruled out a return to the minimum trip for next month’s Tingle Creek and said yesterday: “He seems very well and hopefully he’ll run a good race. Conditions aren’t ideal but they should be fine. Sandown is a possible but we’ll see how we get on here.”

One suspects Sizing Europe is capable of transferring his two mile class to three miles. Only the weather prevented him running in last season’s King George.

He should strip fitter for his Gowran run last month and in terms of ratings Sizing Europe is clear of Quito De La Roque, Bostons Angel and race specialist Paul Nicholl’s The Nightingale.

Kauto Star’s half brother Kauto Stone has his first start for Nicholls in the Grade Two Chase. He faces stiff opposition in the Galway Plate heroine Blazing Tempo and last season’s good novices Roi Du Mee and Saludos but Kauto Stone was a Grade One winner in France and is highly rated by his trainer.

The dour-staying Another Palm could be the answer to tomorrow’s Cork National at Mallow but most eyes will be on Leopardstown where the flat turf season climaxes as Johnny Murtagh and Pat Smullen continue their battle for the jockeys’ title.

Smullen could have the answer to the very last race, the €60,000 November Handicap, with Hidden Universe. John Oxx runs Call To Battle in the Listed Eyrefield Stakes and his stable companion Takar could have given him an earlier form boost in the seven furlong maiden.