Tuesday thriller: Gold Cup hero Sizing John faces Burrows Saint at Punchestown

Sizing John will take on an Irish National and Cesarewitch winner when the 2017 Gold Cup champion makes his eagerly anticipated return over hurdles at Punchestown on Tuesday.

The nine-year-old is one of seven in the Bet With Tote At Punchestown Hurdle, a conditions event over 2m3½f, taking on Willie Mullins' Burrows Saint who was third in the Drinmore on his seasonal return.

Also in the line-up is classy Flat performer Stratum, Cracking Smart and Sayo, who was third in the 2018 Triumph Hurdle.

The five-time Grade 1 hero will be ridden by Barry Geraghty with regular rider Robbie Power recovering from a concussion injury. She said in her Unibet blog yesterday: "All is good with Sizing John, who’ll head to Punchestown for a two-and-a-half-mile conditions race there on New Year’s Eve.

Watch Sizing John's 2017 Cheltenham Gold Cup victory

"It’s a nervous time as he’s been off the track for two years, but he is in very good form and has enough done to suggest we can get him back going again."

Harrington added: "It looks a very good race on paper – we’ll just have to wait and see what is declared, but I am very happy with him and it’s all systems go for Punchestown."

Joseph O'Brien's Le Richebourg was not declared, he has not run since his seven-length demolition in the Irish Arkle.

Last season's Aintree Hurdle winner Supasundae could make his return to action in Britain. The nine-year-old was not ready for Saturday's Frank Ward Memorial Hurdle at Leopardstown.

"The Grade 1 hurdle at Leopardstown just came too soon for Supasundae," said Harrington. "There are very few options for him over here and I may have to look for a race for him in England.

"I don’t want to start him off over two and a half miles and as he’s getting older, he is taking a lot of work to get fit. He looks great so we’ll just have to wait a couple of weeks before we get him started."

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