Punchestown on Europe agenda

Sizing Europe is likely to bid to follow up his Arkle win in the Ryanair Novice Chase at the Punchestown Festival.

Henry de Bromhead’s eight-year-old maintained his unbeaten record over fences in the hands of Andrew Lynch last week, and banished all his previous bad memories of Prestbury Park in the process.

“Sizing Europe is in good form – he travelled home well and we are very happy with him,” said De Bromhead.

“I am absolutely over the moon with his run at Cheltenham and it hasn’t really sunk in yet. I was especially delighted for the horse because he finally showed what he can do at Cheltenham.

“Everything seems to have fallen into place with him this season and a lot of hard work has gone into him.

“We are just getting him over last week but we are certainly aiming him towards the Ryanair Novice Chase.

“He certainly likes Punchestown – he has won there four times, including when beating Big Zeb in a winners of one hurdle at the 2007 Festival, which looks like quite a good bit of form now!”

The participation of De Bromhead’s other Grade One-winning chaser, An Cathaoir Mor, depends on the ground while his smart novice hurdler Loosen My Load is likely to head to Fairyhouse first.

“An Cathaoir Mor will also be given an entry at Punchestown, but it is obviously very ground dependent whether he runs or not – soft ground is the key to him,” said the Co Waterford handler.

“Loosen My Load had been on the go since last summer so we decided to give him a little break after he won at Cheltenham in November. He didn’t come back well enough to return for the Festival there and run in such competitive Grade One races.

“He looks great now and he will hopefully head to Fairyhouse over Easter and then on to Punchestown.

“We will decide after his next run whether to keep him over two miles for the Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle or step him up in distance for the Cathal Ryan Memorial Champion Novice Hurdle over half a mile further.

“He has won a Grade Two hurdle around Cheltenham and I am not sure that he needs to step up in distance at this stage of his career.”