ANYONE DISMISSING Punchestown this evening as some mundane midweek fixture would do well to remember how Sizing Europe won the Beginners Chase last year and his high-class stable companion, Loosen My Load, is attempting to follow in the Arkle winner's footsteps, writes Brian O'Connor.

Loosen My Load carries the Alan Potts colours as well and brings some high-class hurdles form having won a Grade Two at Cheltenham last November.

Trainer Henry De Bromhead skipped Cheltenham in March with the six-year-old who was hardly suited by the heavy ground on his reappearance at Fairyhouse. Loosen My Load subsequently failed in Grade One company at the Punchestown Festival but wasn’t beaten too far behind Blackstairmountain.

Tonight’s ground conditions should suit him and he looks to be a future chaser of some potential.

Old McDonald appears set for a profitable career over hurdles based on a bumper season that saw him finish fourth in the Champion bumper at Punchestown and Noel Glynn’s runner will be hard to beat in the first maiden hurdle.

Some well known names line up in the conditions chase, including the former Grade One winner Justified who returned to action after a year off with a good run here at the festival. See U Bob, however, may be a better option this evening judged on the balance of his form which includes a defeat of Kempes last January.

Lucky Wish has been running over fences and put in a fine effort behind Archie Boy at Killarney. The return to hurdles can pay off here.