Harrington: the dream is still alive with 2017 Gold Cup winner Sizing John

Jessica Harrington believes "the dream is still alive" with Sizing John and on Monday she issued a positive bulletin on her stable star.

Sizing John was crowned horse of the year at the HRI awards in 2017 after a trio of Gold Cup triumphs at Leopardstown, Cheltenham and Punchestown, but has not raced since pulling up in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown later that year.

Harrington has had to be patient with the nine-year-old, who has suffered a series of setbacks, including a pelvic injury that ruled him out of this year's Cheltenham Festival.

However, unlike most of his potential 2020 Gold Cup rivals, Sizing John was kept busy during the summer months completing a rehabilitation programme.

Harrington said: “He's actually never been out [this summer]. He's been doing rehab since the spring and we've kept him going so he's back cantering. His rehab consisted of a lot of trotting and things like that so we're happy with where we are with him.”

The trainer is optimistic about getting Sizing John back to the peak of his powers and revealed a return over flights in November would be an ideal starting point for the Gold Cup hero, who is not even priced up by any firm to regain his crown next March.

She added: “He's only a nine-year-old and could have three good years ahead of him. I'd love to start him back in a hurdle race and take things from there – the dream is still alive."

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