SIZING JOHN EYES GOLD CUP DOUBLE

SIZING JOHN is now 4-1 favourite to successfully defend his Cheltenham Gold Cup after a decisive seven-length comeback win from Djakadam in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown reminded us of his huge talent.

Apart from an uncharacteristic mistake at the second fence, the sevenyear-old trained by Jessica Harrington never looked in danger under Robbie Power and dismissed a dual winner of the race who has also twice been placed in the Gold Cup.

Sent off at 2-1, the win extended Sizing John’s unbeaten run to five races.

A delighted Harrington said his season will revolve around the Cheltenham Festival but refused to commit him to a run in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day — or anywhere over Christmas. That could open the way for Colin Tizzard-trained Fox Norton — who like Sizing John carries the colours of the late Ann and Alan Potts — to be thrown into the King George.

Harrington said of Sizing John’s victory: ‘The mistake at the second fence woke us all up and he jumped super after that.

‘I don’t know where he will go next. The one place he will turn up is in March (Cheltenham), 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 altogether.’

After Fox Norton was beaten by Politologue in Saturday’s two-mile Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown, Tizzard said the horse would be stepped up in distance.

Trainer Paul Nicholls is confident Politologue can throw down a challenge to Douvan and Altior in the two- mile chase division after the grey gave him a 10th win in the Tingle Creek Chase.

While there are questions over Douvan, who is recovering from a pelvic injury, and Altior, who has had a breathing operation, Politologue has thrived since a switch to two-mile chases. Nicholls said: ‘Horses that are young and improving are dangerous. Altior and Douvan are smart horses but they have issues and who knows how far Politologue is going to improve?’

Meanwhile, Un De Sceaux made a winning comeback for trainer Willie Mullins in the Hilly Way Chase at Cork — under David Mullins.