SIZING JOHN MYSTERY

TRAINER Jessica Harrington is still trying to understand Sizing John’s below-par effort in the Leopardstown Christmas Chase on Thursday after initial blood tests showed nothing untoward. The Cheltenham Gold Cup winner failed to fire in the Grade One contest, for which he was sent off the 9-10 favourite, trailing home seventh behind winner Road To Respect. ‘All the bloods came back normal,’ said Harrington. ‘We’ll take more, but he’s sound and he ate up.’ Following the race, Sizing John was reported to be distressed and Harrington revealed he had suffered from slight hyperthermia, but quickly recovered.