Sizing John has measure of rivals in Gold Cup win

Harrington gelding triumphs in Cheltenham blue riband

JessicaHarrington struggled to comprehend the magnitude of her achievement after Sizing John ran out a brilliant winner of the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup yesterday.

The County Kildare-based trainer is no stranger to success at Prestbury Park, most notably landing two Queen Mother Champion Chases with the greatMoscow Flyer and the Champion Hurdle with Jezki.

However, she had never even saddled a runner in the blue riband before going for gold with Sizing John, who was formerly trained by Henry de Bromhead, and opened her account at the first attempt.

“I can’t believe it, it was amazinghowhejumpedand travelled,” said a thrilled Harrington.

“I’ve never had a runner in the race before, so to train the winner – I don’t know when I’ll come down to earth.

“This is the jewel in the crown, I’ve been watching and listening for as long as I can remember.

“I feel a bit sorry forHenry de Bromhead as I only inherited him in September and I had to get to know him and how to train him.”

Placed behind the mighty Douvan on no less than seven occasions, the sevenyear-old confirmed himself a major contender with victory in last month’s Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

Some suspected another two furlongs and the famous hill would prove a step too far, but having travelled powerfully in the hands of jockey Robbie Power, 7-1 shot Sizing John moved to the frontroundingthehometurn and galloped all the way to the line for a two-and-threequarter-length triumph.

“He was running over two miles and if Douvan hadn’t been around, he would probably have stayed over that trip,” addedHarrington, who for good measure also took the Grand Annual Chase, the concluding event of the four days, with the Power-ridden Rock The World.

Power, who won the Grand National on the Gordon Elliott-trained Silver Birch in 2007, said: “Unbelievable, Jessica Harrington is a genius. I always said when this horse stepped up in trip he’d win.

“I was only 25 when I won theNational and I’m 35 now. When you’re 25 you think you can win everything, so this is very special.”

Minella Rocco, an 18-1 chance, flew home to fill the runner-up spot for trainer Jonjo O’Neill.

Colin Tizzard’s Native River was a close third at 7-2, just ahead of 3-1 favourite Djakadam.