Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Sizing John on course for New Year’s Eve return
SIZING John could return from a two-year absence later this month. The 2017 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero is being prepared for a 2m4f hurdle race at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve, trainer Jessica Harrington confirmed. The nine-year-old completed the rare treble of the Irish Gold Cup, the blue riband at Cheltenham and the Punchestown Gold […]
SIZING John could return from a two-year absence later this month.
The 2017 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero is being prepared for a 2m4f hurdle race at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve, trainer Jessica Harrington confirmed.
The nine-year-old completed the rare treble of the Irish Gold Cup, the blue riband at Cheltenham and the Punchestown Gold Cup in 2017.
Injuries have prevented him from taking to the track since Christmas of that year, but he pleased connections when taking part in a racecourse gallop on Sunday.
Harrington said: “All is good. I was happy with the way he worked at Punchestown and Robert (Power) was very happy – and he’s the most important person.
“We didn’t enter him in anything over Christmas. At the moment we’re aiming towards the conditions hurdle on New Year’s Eve, that’s the plan.”
Harrington also provided an update on multiple Grade 1-winning hurdler Supasundae, who is likely to make his seasonal reappearance in the Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown on 29 December.
She continued: “He worked after racing at Punchestown as well and just got a bit tired.
“He is a very hard horse to get fit, but he’s getting there and hopefully he’ll have a run over Christmas in the two-mile Grade 1.”