De Bromhead's stable star hangs on to take two mile novice crown

The Irish Independent Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham on Tuesday saw the Henry de Bromhead-trained Sizing Europe (Pistolet Bleu), ridden by Andrew Lynch, land the spoils from Henrietta Knight's Henry VII Novices' Chase winner Somersby, who was closing at the line and would have won in a further half furlong.

Sizing Europe, who was sent off favourite for the Champion Hurdle two years ago but was well-beaten when below par that day, is unbeaten in four starts over fences this season and rewarded his supporters with a good round of jumping in a prominent position that allowed him to take command of the race when his fellow leader Mad Max blundered through the second last. Osana chased Sizing Europe up the hill, but it was Somersby, who had looked outpaced at a critical stage after the third last, who challenged hardest, closing to within a length at the line on his first start in 101 days. Osana plugged on to take third spot.

The favourite Captain Cee Bee had been slow at his fences after half way and was niggled along by AP McCoy from a mile out before fading to be well beaten.

De Bromhead said: "He seemed to be travelling brilliantly and jumping great. He got a fantastic ride and it all went right on the day.

"He loves to be fresh and we got our runs and experience into him before Christmas which was good. He prefers the better ground. Hopefully he'll be back next year for the Queen Mother."

Of Somersby, Henrietta Knight said a step up in trip beckons: "I shouldn't think he will do much more this year, but next year we will target him towards the Gold Cup.

"He had a very good run, except for getting slightly close to one of the open ditches. But the winner ran in the Champion Hurdle and won the Irish Champion, so there was no disgrace whatsoever."

Chief Dan George beats The Package in the William Hill Trophy

The later William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase was won by the Jimmy Moffatt-trained Chief Dan George, who gamely outbattled Ogee on the run in to take the lead, and held off the late thrust of the favourite The Package to win by a short head.

The ten-year-old was a smart novice hurdler, running up a four-timer in 2006-07 before being beaten by Wichita Lineman at the 2007 Festival. he later truned the tables on that rival with victory in the Grade One Sefton Novices' Hurdle at Aintree. He has now won four times in ten starts over fences, and came into this race having beaten Tamarinbleu in a veterans' chase at Doncaster.