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Stage is set for reformed Sizing John to wow us once again

David Jennings on the Gold Cup hero's chance to dazzle his home fans

Did you know Ed Sheeran opened for Nizlopi at the Norwich Arts Centre in 2008? Have you forgotten them? Thought so. They sang that catchy but soon awfully annoying 'JCB song' and allowed the 17-year-old, who was their guitar technician on tour, to perform while everyone was finding their seats and ordering drinks.

Everyone has to start somewhere, even Sizing John. You might not have noticed him, but when Douvan was delivering note-perfect power ballads and getting standing ovations everywhere he went, more often than not, there on stage with him was an invisible artist doing harmonies. He was only there to make the headline act look good.

The pair first shared a stage together at Gowran Park in late November 2014 and the tour of Ireland and Britain lasted until the Christmas just gone by. Seven performances and they all ended exactly the same; Douvan destroyed him on each occasion.

But on January 19 of this year, Sizing John decided to ditch Douvan and go out on his own. Under a different manager in Jessica Harrington and singing completely different tunes, he has now become a record-selling artist and picked the biggest stage of all for his most powerful performance.

Where better to show your true talents than at Cheltenham and in the Gold Cup. Fresh from seeing off Sub Lieutenant in the Kinloch Brae at Thurles over two and a half miles and a gutsy Irish Gold Cup win at Leopardstown, Sizing John proved himself to be a thorough stayer with a decisive success over Minella Rocco and Native River. A stayer with speed is what you need.

Now it is time for the new and improved Sizing John to entertain his home fans. The ones who watched him hiding behind Douvan on so many occasions, including on this very stage last year.

But a fourth win on the trot will not be easily achieved. Djakadam, who would surely have got much closer to him at Cheltenham but for ploughing through the second-last fence, wants another crack at him and 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Coneygree makes his eagerly awaited return to action too.

He has not been seen since bravely chasing home Cue Card in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November, the type of performance that suggests all of his old ability was retained. He wears his heart on his sleeve and it is brilliant to have him back whether he wins, loses or draws.

Throw in Thyestes winner Champagne West, Lexus hero Outlander and the lovable old mud-lover Flemenstar and you have got yourself one of the classiest Coral Punchestown Gold Cups in recent memory. It is a showdown to savour.

How high can Presenting fly?

The Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle has us licking our lips too with two Cheltenham Festival winners locking horns. Penhill pounced late to land the Albert Bartlett, but even more impressive was Presenting Percy who made all those who argued that he was badly treated in Britain off a mark of 146 look very foolish indeed when storming clear in the Pertemps Final. Today we find out whether he was in fact a Grade 1 horse in a handicap.

More Cheltenham form put to the test

The Champion Bumper, now sponsored by a company who are wonderful to work for (it's pay day soon!) might only have attracted seven runners but what a quality bunch they are. Fayonagh is the most fabulous of females and quite how she managed to win the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham from where she was remains a mystery. She's beaten the boys once, but can she do it again?

The unbeaten Poli Roi also represents Gordon Elliott, who must see this as one of his best chances of Grade 1 glory this week. Someday was forced to miss Cheltenham but has long been the apple of Kate Harrington's eye and everything her mother touches right now turns to gold so transforming a Leopardstown bumper winner into Grade 1 winner would not be her most astonishing party piece this season.

Turning a frustrated two-mile chaser into the best stayer in the business is the trick of all tricks and the work of a seriously talented magician.

The stage is set for Sizing John to wow us once again. He's come a long way since the days of standing in the background behind Douvan.

Published on 25 April 2017inPreviews

Last updated 18:36, 25 April 2017

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