Farmer Brown set for Punchestown Pat Hughes is planning a crack at the Punchestown Festival with Farmer Brown following his creditable run in the Champion Hurdle. The seven-year-old, who won the ultra-competitive Galway Hurdle earlier in the season, finished eighth at the Cheltenham Festival and his handler is now eyeing compensation closer to home. Hughes said: "He was probably interfered with at the last and might have been fifth but for that. "He was on the heels of the leaders but just couldn´t get there. When he was interfered with, that was his chance really gone. "I would say he will (go to Punchestown). He will probably go for the two-mile hurdle at Punchestown (ACCBank Champion Hurdle)." Sizing Europe was sent off the 2-1 favourite in the Champion but trailed home last of 14 finishers after looking a likely winner two-out. Hughes was not surprised by the eclipse of Henry De Bromhead´s market leader as he feels the form of his AIG Europe Champion Hurdle win did not stack up. "I was never a fan of Sizing Europe for the Champion Hurdle. I actually fancied the winner and my son backed him, but I didn´t have a bet in the race," he told At The Races. "Leopardstown turned out to be a bad race. Lounaos was fourth - she was rated 12lb under Sizing Europe and went up 7lb for being fourth and I think that´s crazy. "Of the second and third horses, I saw Hardy Eustace in a schooling race at Leopardstown and he finished ninth of 10 schoolers and that was an indication in itself. "Al Eile ran at Dundalk and didn´t run much of a race either."
