Sizing John’s 7/1 victory in The Festival’s showpiece race, the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup last week, was a first in the championship contest for trainer Jessica Harrington, jockey Robert Power and owners Ann and Alan Potts.
Sizing John, a seven-year-old by the British sire Midnight Legend, was Harrington’s first-ever runner in the race. It was her second winner of the week – she also took the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle with Supasundae – and a 10th Festival success in total. She is the winning-most female trainer in Festival history.
Sizing John beat second-placed Minella Rocco by two and three-quarter lengths.
Harrington said: “I can’t believe it. He was absolutely amazing. His jumping, the way he travelled. He was absolutely fantastic. It’s unreal! It’s thanks to Robert – he’s the one who said at Christmas, ‘he will stay’.”
“Sizing John has gone from two miles at Christmas to winning over three miles and two furlongs here. He jumped like a buck and it is his jumping that has got him there the whole way. He was amazing.”
“It is a first runner in the race for me. I have never had any stayers before this. A big thank you to everyone at home. It is a big team and everyone has been fantastic.”
Alan Potts, who moved Sizing John from Henry de Bromhead’s yard to Harrington in the autumn, said: “It’s the first horse we have ever run in the Gold Cup, and only a couple of weeks after we won the Irish Gold Cup [with Sizing John at Leopardstown in February]. Pretty good!”
“It has always been our dream to win this, ever since we got into this game about 12 years ago. I invest heavily so that we can hopefully pick the best horses, and when you win a race like this, this is unreal.”
Postponed is the bet in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan on Saturday.
Back next Thursday
Kevan Minter
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