Signs of further progress following Sizing's chasing heroics
Trainer has another string to add to her Gold Cup bow
Coming off a really good year on the Flat, Jessica Harrington will attempt to build on a tremendous 2016-17 season over jumps, and while it was not the most successful season she has enjoyed in terms of number of winners, in terms of achievement it was probably her best ever.
The signs of progress at Commonstown are everywhere, including the 30 new boxes constructed and ready for occupation. And occupied they will be.
It is hard to fathom that prior to last season she had yet to have a runner in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown or the Cheltenham Gold Cup. By the end of March she had both trophies on her sideboard courtesy of Sizing John in his first full season at the yard. The seven-year-old added a third Grade 1 chase to his CV with a gutsy victory in the Punchestown Gold Cup, and fully justified his owner Alan Potts's decision to send some of his horses to the trainer.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on inStable Tours
Last updated
Copy- 'We hope he's a Triumph Hurdle horse, so until he tells us otherwise we'll be aiming him that way'
- 'He could make it right to the very top over fences’ - Willie Mullins’ exclusive horse-by-horse guide to his extraordinary team
- 'He's bigger, stronger, definitely getting better - and he'll be a classy horse going back into handicaps'
- 'Our novice chasers are as good as anyone's in Britain - and this one is a proper horse'
- 'Having a winner at the Cheltenham Festival last season made a big difference - and this might be one for the same race'
- 'We hope he's a Triumph Hurdle horse, so until he tells us otherwise we'll be aiming him that way'
- 'He could make it right to the very top over fences’ - Willie Mullins’ exclusive horse-by-horse guide to his extraordinary team
- 'He's bigger, stronger, definitely getting better - and he'll be a classy horse going back into handicaps'
- 'Our novice chasers are as good as anyone's in Britain - and this one is a proper horse'
- 'Having a winner at the Cheltenham Festival last season made a big difference - and this might be one for the same race'