Gold Cup Winner 2017
Winner: Sizing John
Betting Odds: 7/1
Trainer: Jessica Harrington
Owner: Ann & Alan Potts
The 89th annual running of the Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) sponsored by Timico, an Information Technology Managed Service provider in the United Kingdom. In June 2021, Timico was rebranded to Digital Space. A number of stars missing from the line up but a compelling renewal. A race set at a decent pace and one where the seven year olds proved to be the strength of the race. There were some concerns about Sizing John getting the extended trip although his win in the Irish Gold Cup (the first time he had attempted over 3 miles) gave connections and punters hope he would go well.
Faster going would be a prerequisite for Sizing John.
Interestingly, it was the first time Robbie Power and Jessica Harrington had a ride/runner in this contest.
A going description of good.
Win prize money of £327,462.50. A winning time of 6m 36.10s (fast by 9.90s).
This seven-year-old gelding, a son of Midnight Legend out of a four-time winning mare named La Perrotine. He cost 16,000 (Euros) as a foal when purchased by John Bleahen.
Leading up to the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Sizing John ran in the Stan James Irish Gold Cup when he won ‘all out’ on soft ground beating Empire Of Dirt by 3/4-length.
Jessica Harrington said: ‘It will come down to the Gold Cup or the Ryanair. He wasn’t stopping at the end of three miles today, so we might go the Gold Cup route. We don’t know he will get three and a quarter miles, but on better ground he might.’
Sizing John would run 21 times in his career. On his penultimate race at Punchestown on the 28th December 2017 he finished distressed and the vet said ‘he was found to be clinically abnormal post race’. He didn’t race again for over two years when returning on the 31st December 2019, aged nine, at a Punchestown Hurdle, when falling three out.
He was retired after that race.
He achieved total prize winnings of £776, 806.
17th March 2017 –
3:30 Cheltenham – Timico Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1)
A field of 13 runners on pretty fast ground.
Leading contenders included: Djakadam 3/1f, Native River 7/2, Cue Card 9/2, Sizing John 7/1, Outlander 10/1, More Of That 14/1 & Champagne West 14/1.
Bristol De Mai (16/1), Native River (7/2) and the rather errant Champagne West led over the first two jumps, while Tea For Two (50/1) blundered badly at the second unseating his jockey. At the water jump, the front-running Native River enjoyed himself, with a small edge over Champagne West and Bristol De Mai. Djakadam (3/1f) sat in fourth, while Irish Cavalier (66/1) was pushed along out the back.
At the end of the first circuit Champagne West travelled well for David Mullins, freewheeling a length ahead of Native River, from Djakadam and Bristol De Mai on the rail.
The two leaders travelling well with the roar of the crowd, passing the stands homeward bound.
Down the hill, Champagne West went well with Native River, while Sizing John was given a quiet ride in mid-division.
Native River led at the sixth last, the open ditch, while Djakadam made a positive move into second, gaining a cheer from the crowd. The grey, Smad Place, was in fifth, while Sizing John bided his time with a gathering field.
At three out, Sizing John was bustled up by Power, gathering pace and as commentator Simon Holt quoted: ‘travelled well’.
Cue Card falling at the same fence as he did last year.
Heading to the final turn with two to go, Djakadam moved up purposefully, taking the lead from Native River, while Sizing John was angled out for a clear run to the line.
Djakadam wasn’t best over the second last fence, while Sizing John stormed into the lead.
He had a brilliant jump at the last, Djakadam trying to fight back in second, fighting it out with Native River. Minella Rocco (18/1) fairly flew up the hill to challenge fro a long way back, but Sizing John held them all to win by 2 3/4-lengths, from Minella Rocco who did tremendously well to snatch second by a short-head from Native River, who got the better of Djakadam by a narrow margin.
Robbie Power [jockey] quote: ‘I got the feel of Sizing John both at Leopardstown and in his home work that all that he did do was stay. It was just a suggestion from me, it is Jessica who does the training. He has been running over two miles for so long that he is so fast over fences. We went a good gallop all the way today, but that speed he has jumping over two miles means that, over three miles, I can take him back and fill him up everywhere through the race. It is a huge advantage.’
Cheltenham Gold Cup Results:
2017 – 1st
Major wins: Future Champions Novice Hurdle (2014), Craddockstown Novice Chase (2015), Kinloch Brae Chase (2017), Irish Gold Cup (2017), Punchestown Gold Cup (2017), John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase (2017).