CORAL PUNCHESTOWN

GOLD CUP CHASE

(GRADE 1)

IN a spectacle and a finish which were fit to grace most exalted of stages, Sizing John etched out a unique place in racing history and showed the blend of qualities that belong to only the finest of champions as he somehow edged the most titanic of finales.

In victory the Jessica Harrington-trained and Robbie Power-ridden Sizing John has become the first horse to complete the clean sweep of the Irish, Cheltenham and Punchestown Gold Cups in the one season. However, this doesn’t begin to relate what transpired in what was unquestionably the most captivating edition of this race.

Djakadam and former Gold Cup hero Coneygree had to settle for the minor placings but it would be a gross understatement to simply say they played their part as they did so much more. Indeed, the first three home all made this a race for the ages.

Kicking King and War Of Attrition both followed their Cheltenham Gold Cup triumphs in this race in 2005 and 2006 and the bombproof Sizing John was a 9/10 chance to follow suit. He faced just five rivals, he still had room for improvement at this trip, his Cheltenham form gave him a clear edge over Djakadam and Coneygree was running for just the third time since he won the 2015 Gold Cup.

To their eternal credit, the aforementioned pair turned up in the form of their lives to make Jessica Harrington’s star chaser pull out all the stops in the most rousing of conclusions. As is his wont, Coneygree set off in front, he made this the sternest of tests by setting a strong gallop and there were times during the race where Sizing John didn’t look to be travelling with the same élan as he did at Cheltenham.

Sizing John had any amount to give when it mattered most and the battle was truly joined from the third last where there was no more than two lengths covering Coneygree, Djakadam and Sizing John. In the straight, the scales tipped one way and then another and Sizing John wasn’t too fluent at the second last.

TENACIOUS

This handed the initiative to Djakadam who took off in front at the final fence but he pecked on landing which gave the tenacious Gold Cup winner his chance. Even still, Sizing John had to give his very all to find a way past Djakadam and it was only in the final yards that he gained the upper hand to prevail by a short-head. Coneygree was a length and a half back in third.

“Robbie said he wasn’t going as well as he was at Cheltenham and through the race I kept saying to Emma (trainer’s daughter) that he wouldn’t win, but he’s shown some guts to get up,” reflected the elated winning trainer. “Robbie has given him an unbelievable ride and is just riding out of his skin at the moment.

“Sizing John was just a bit flat and then he was slow at the second last and he’s pulled off a shoe so there were plenty of excuses but his guts and his class have got him there in the end. It really was some race and they went some gallop from the very start,” added the trainer.

At the start of this season Robbie Power had notched up a career tally of nine Grade 1 wins but during this most incredible of campaigns he has racked up eight top-level successes.

“I was never that happy,” reflected Power. “Sizing John was off the bridle and felt a bit flat. He had a hard race at Cheltenham and full credit to him as he is only a seven-year-old and he dug deep when he had to.

“He is just a very good horse and he has earned a good break over the summer.”