Duke can take John’s crown
OUR Duke can provide Jessica Harrington and Robbie Power with their second successive victory in the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The Irish trainer struck gold with her very first runner in the blue riband when Sizing John claimed top honours last season.
And while he is not back to defend his crown, Our Duke is a more-than-capable understudy.
The eight-year-old would have been fully entitled to run at last year’s Festival after winning a Grade One novice chase at Leopardstown, but connections elected to take a cautious approach and he instead remained on home soil.
The decision paid off handsomely as Our Duke ran out a brilliant winner of the Irish Grand National, looking every inch a Gold Cup contender as he jumped and galloped his rivals silly despite carrying a big weight.
This season has not been so straightforward, with a back problem discovered after a listless comeback at Down Royal, but that was swiftly rectified.
And after a promising enough effort in the Irish Gold Cup, he gave weight and a beating to star novice Presenting Percy in the Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park.
Because of his interrupted campaign he heads into the spring relatively fresh and providing he takes to the track, he should be coming home strongly when some of his rivals may have cried enough.