Sizing so good on return to action

After being crowned 'Horse Of The Year' at the HRI Awards on Tuesday, Sizing John rounded off a week to remember for connections, as he claimed the John Durkan Memorial Chase in tremendous style.

The Cheltenham and Punchestown Gold Cup hero was sent off a 2/1 chance for this Grade 1 contest, with Djakadam (the winner of this race the last two years) the 5/4 favourite under Paul Townend.

Settled behind the leaders by Robbie Power, he wasn't fluent at the second. He travelled best to lead after three out, and kept on well from before the last, going on to score convincingly by seven lengths.

Djakadam couldn't match the winner from two out, and he had to settle for second, while Sub Lieutenant (7/1) was two and three parts of a length back in third with Davy Russell aboard for Henry De Bromhead.

Jessica Harrington of course trains Sizing John, and she said afterwards: "First run of the year you are always nervous. I wasn't worried about the heavy ground going two and a half miles but he was super.

"The mistake at the second fence woke us all up and he jumped super after that. He's a super jumper and it's the first time he's made a mistake in all the races that I've been training him.

"He doesn’t mind heavy ground, not going two and a half miles, it's just going three miles would bottom him out a fair amount. I don't know where he will go next. It's always one race at a time and I'll have to talk to a few people before we decide where we go next.

"The one place he will turn up all things being equal is in March, and what we do between now and March will depend on the horse. We might go to Leopardstown or the King George or we might miss Christmas all together."

The winner is now 5/1 (from 7s) with Paddy Power for the King George at Kempton, while he is 9/2 (from 7s) with the same firm for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

STEWARDS REPORT

The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Shaneshill trained by W.P. Mullins, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be blowing hard and coughing post race.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee