Festival options open for Europe

Henry de Bromhead is in no rush to decide Sizing Europe’s Cheltenham target after his creditable effort in Sunday’s Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown.

The nine-year-old has failed to find the winner’s enclosure since landing the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham last season, but has been placed over trips varying from two to three miles.

The gelding holds entries in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, the Ryanair Chase and the Cheltenham Gold Cup at next month’s Prestbury Park Festival.

“He seems fine this morning and I thought he ran OK,” said De Bromhead.

“His jumping wasn’t as slick as it can be, but it was his first run since November and he ran all right.

“He’s in all three races at Cheltenham so we’ll keep our options open for the moment and hopefully finalise plans in the next few weeks.

“There is no rush to decide and we just want to see how he comes out of the race at the weekend and think it all through.

“We’ll also have to consider the ground at Cheltenham. Whatever happens, to show his real best he needs that better ground. He hasn’t had that on his last couple of starts.”