DEATH OF GOLD CUP WINNER
RACING yesterday reeled in shock at the death, aged 80, of Gold Cup-winning owner Alan Potts.
A staunch supporter of jump racing in both Britain and Ireland, Potts — whose wife Ann passed away in August — saw his colours carried to victory in chasing’s blue-riband event when Sizing John triumphed at Cheltenham last March.
Sizing John’s trainer Jessica Harrington said last night: “It’s very, very sad. I spoke to him only last week after his Magic Of Light had won a beginners’ chase at Fairyhouse.
“He was in great form and was looking forward to going to Cheltenham this weekend.”
Harrington added she had “no idea” whether Sizing John, due to make his return to action in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday week, would still line up on Merseyside.
And long-term plans for Potts’ horses — the Colin Tizzard-trained Finian’s Oscar and Fox Norton are set to run at Cheltenham this weekend — have yet to be announced.
ANTE-POST favourite Defi Du Seuil will not run in Sunday’s Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Last season’s Triumph Hurdle winner will now make his seasonal reappearance in the Coral Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday week.