< Sizing Europe set pulses racing at Punchestown with a scintillating performance in the Buck House Novice Chase.

Henry de Bromhead's charge was a tip-top hurdler but always looked an embryonic chaser in the making and his debut over the larger obstacles in May did nothing to dampen enthusiasm.

Despite the presence of the mercurial Harchibald - making his chasing debut - and the classy Bobs Pride Sizing Europe was the 8-11 favourite and his backers never had a moment's worry as he cruised home 17 lengths clear of Noel Meade's stalwart.

"That's great. It's really exciting and great to have him back. Hopefully he'll progress from that and I'm just delighted," said De Bromhead.

"Ann and Alan (Potts, owners) would love to go to Cheltenham next month for the two-mile race on the Sunday and it will be either there or back here.

"Hopefully we got all his troubles out of the way last season."

Meade was over the moon with the performance of Harchibald on his chasing debut.

"I'm delighted. The main thing was that he came back safe and sound," he said.

Meade had better luck with Casey Jones (7-2) who made nearly all of the running in the Star 'Best For Racing Coverage' Chase for Paul Carberry.

A Grade One winner last year but giving away weight to some smart rivals, he held off the late challenge of Kilcrea Castle by a length and a half.

"He jumped brilliant and I suppose we'll go ahead with Plan A now and enter him for the Hennessy (at Newbury)," said Meade.

"Hopefully Denman runs so we get in sitting on the bottom. It depends what way the weights work out but if he gets in with a reasonable racing weight we'd have to think about it.< Some Present (13-8 favourite) also created a good impression in the two-mile maiden hurdle for Tom Mullins and Davy Russell.

"We've got that over a done with and there'll be plenty of races for him. I imagine he'll bet better over longer and will want two and a half miles," said Mullins.