Djakadam facing a Sizable task against Golden boy
THE clash of Gold Cup victor Sizing John and Djakadam in the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase should attract a big crowd to Punchestown tomorrow.
Djakadam is bidding for a hat-trick in this traditional, pre-christmas two-and-a-half mile showpiece but might not cope with Sizing John, which completed an unprecedented Gold Cup treble last season and comes into tomorrow’s test having missed his intended comeback run in the recent Betfair Chase at Haydock.
Of course, Sizing John started last season as a two-miler but, having bumped into Douvan again at Leopardstown over Christmas, a decision was made to step him up in trip, initially in the two and a half mile Kinloch Brae Chase, which he won, at Thurles.
Trying three miles for the first time, he outpointed Empire Of Dirt in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown in February.
And he achieved the Holy Grail of steeplechasing when powering up the hill to land the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March, from the fast-finishing Minella Rocco, with Djakadam, runner-up in the previous two years, in fourth.
Sizing John completed his Gold Cup hat-trick at this venue, when getting up late to short-head Djakadam in a sensational renewal of the Coral Punchestown Gold Cup in
April with Coneygree third.
Tomorrow, we must take the fitness level of both horses on trust, although Willie Mullins issued a warning about Djakadam this week.
Conqueror of Carlingford Lough in the race last year, Djakadam failed to win again last season. But he’s rated just 1lb below Sizing John. And some believe that two and a half miles is his best trip. A fascinating battle is in store, with slight preference for Sizing John in a race which also features Djakadam’s stablecompanion SHANESHILL, which must improve, multiple Grade 1 winner CARLINGFORD LOUGH and the Gigginstown pair A TOI PHIL and SUB LIEUTENANT.
On the supporting card, Gordon Elliott, inset,trained ROARING BULL should prove tough to beat in the opening, five-runner Buy Annual Membership Rated Novice Hurdle.