Sizing John out for season after yet another setback

Sizing John, who has run only four times since his 2017 Cheltenham Gold Cup victory, has been ruled out for the remainder of this season after suffering yet another injury.

Jessica Harrington’s 10-year-old had been off the track for more than two years before reappearing over hurdles at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve. While he fell three flights from the finish that day, connections took enough encouragement from his performance to aim for a second win in this Sunday’s Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup, at Leopardstown.

Harrington posted on Twitter: “Sadly Sizing John will not be running in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

“He was not 100 per cent this morning following his last fast work at the Curragh yesterday. This is a new injury, and it will rule him out for the rest of the season. Very frustrating for all our team.”

Sizing John was one of two previous Cheltenham Gold Cup winners among the 105 entries for the £1million Randox Health Grand National unveiled yesterday, the other being Native River.

Tiger Roll, who would be seeking to become the first to land a hattrick in the race, is one of 18 possibles for trainer Gordon Elliott.

Elliott, who has more entries this year than any other trainer, has included leading Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup contender Delta Work and exciting novice Champagne Classic among his Aintree team.

Other high-profile entries include Give Me A Copper, who is partowned by former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, and Welsh National winner Potters Corner, who counts Wales rugby union international Jonathan Davies among his owners.

The weights for the Grand National will be revealed in Liverpool on Feb 11.