SIZING EUROPE is a short price for the sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase but he looks a safe bet for punters on day two of the Cheltenham Festival.

The two-mile division had been relatively open for the last couple of seasons before Sizing Europe romped up the Cheltenham hill to claim the Grade One prize last term.

Reversing form with old adversary Big Zeb, he thoroughly impressed as he utilised his extra reserves of stamina to power five lengths clear at the line and supple-ment his Arkle victory of 2010.

While he went on to suffer a surprise defeat at the hands of Big Zeb at Punchestown, it was a touch surprising that trainer Henry de Bromhead wanted to try the three-mile route once again at Down Royal on his seasonal bow.

He has always maintained the 10-year-old would stay the trip but, just as Kauto Star proved to strong in 2010, Quito De La Roque saw it out much the better as Sizing Europe found the petrol gauge on empty after the last.

Reverting to two miles in the Tingle Creek though, he demon-strated just how good he is over the minimum trip, with his fencing improving for the quicker pace.

An eight-length victor at Sandown back in December, he has since claimed the scalp of Big Zeb once again by 15 lengths at Punchestown, and it will be a major shock if he does not triumph again at one of his favourite tracks.

Grands Crus is another worthy market leader in the RSA Chase, arriving at Prestbury Park with an unblemished record over fences.

He chased Big Buck's all the way in staying hurdles last term and has transferred that level of form to fences, running away on his chasing bow here last autumn.

Subsequently a winner at Newbury, he then plundered the Feltham at Kempton in convincing style and even though he did not get his intended prep run, David Pipe will have left no stone unturned in his build-up.