Robbie Power: 'the clock is ticking' for Sizing John to run before Gold Cup

Jockey Robbie Power has aired his frustrations over the weather that is preventing his Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning partner Sizing John from making his return to the track.

The 2017 Gold Cup hero has not run since finishing down the field at Leopardstown's Christmas festival later that year.

Power said: “It’s getting a bit frustrating at this stage. I’m nearly 20 years riding now and I’ve never known the ground to be this good in January.

"There’s one thing we can’t control though and that’s the weather, so we’re just going to have to be patient. It is Ireland we live in, after all, so at some stage we are going to get rain!”

Sizing John: could have a run over hurdles before CheltenhamCredit: Patrick McCann

Power added in his BoyleSports blog: “There are a lot of trainers, like Jessie Harrington with Sizing John and Pat Kelly with Presenting Percy, just trying to get runs into them.

"The clock is ticking though and they’re going to have to run somewhere between now and Cheltenham.”

Harrington revealed last week that Sizing John may have a spin over hurdles if she runs out of other options before the festival.

Sizing John is a best-priced 20-1 chance to regain his Gold Cup crown on March 15, with the market headed by RSA winner Presenting Percy at a best-priced 9-2.