Sizing Europe will be aimed at next month’s sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase after Henry De Bromhead ruled the 2010 Arkle Trophy winner out of the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Ryanair Chase.

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There had been talk that the nine-year-old would tackle the likes of Imperial Commander and Long Run in the Gold Cup after he finished second to the mighty Kauto Star in the JNwine.com Champion Chase over three miles at Down Royal in November.

However, De Bromhead has opted to take on Big Zeb and Master Minded over two miles in the Queen Mother and the trainer explained:  "He's just in the Queen Mother now. He's been good, we're delighted with him and he's in great form.

"He looks well and he always comes to himself in the spring. He's going back to two miles, to what we know he's good at.

"Once we weren't able to conclude about him staying three miles when we didn't go for the King George after it was abandoned and then rescheduled we had to rethink.

"He's spot-on and we're really looking forward to it now."

Sizing Europe was last seen chasing home Golden Silver when he finished third in the Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown two weeks ago.