Sizing John (foaled 13 May 2010) is a British-bred, Irish trained thoroughbred racehorse who competes in National Hunt racing. He is trained by Jessica Harrington and owned by Ann and Alan Potts, and is best known for winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2017. He has been ridden in most of his races by Jonathon Burke, but has more recently been ridden Robbie Power, including all four of his Grade 1 wins over fences (the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the Irish Gold Cup, the Punchestown Gold Cup and the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase, all in 2017). He also won a Grade 1 over Hurdles, the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown in 2014, and spent much of his early chasing career finishing second or third in races won by Douvan, widely regarded as one of the best chasers of recent times.
Background
Sizing John is a dark bay gelding with tiny white socks on his hind legs, bred in North Yorkshire, England by Bryan & Sandra Mayoh of Eskdale Stud. As a foal he was sent to Ireland and put up for sale in November 2010 at Tattersalls where he was bought for €16,000 by John Bleahan. He eventually entered the ownership of Alan Potts and was sent into training with Henry de Bromhead at Knockeen, County Waterford. The colt was gelded as a yearling.
Sizing John was sired by Midnight Legend, a horse who raced successfully both on the flat and over hurdles winning the March Stakes, Glorious Stakes, Top Novices' Hurdle and Champion Novice Hurdle. As a breeding stallion he has sired several other good jumpers including Midnight Chase (Cotswold Chase) and Seeyouatmidnight (Rendlesham Hurdle, Dipper Novices' Chase). Sizing John's dam La Perrotine was a French-bred mare who showed some ability on the track, winning one National Hunt Flat race and three times over hurdles. Her dam Haratiyna was half-sister to the Italian Derby winner Houmayoun and a descendant of the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Altissima.
Sizing John reportedly enjoys listening to music after exercise, displaying a particular fondness for Roar by Katy Perry.
Racing career
2013/2014 National Hunt season
Sizing John began his racing career in National Hunt Flat in the spring of 2014. Ridden by an amateur jockey he finished sixth at Limerick Racecourse in March and fourth to Forgotten Rules at Punchestown in April.
2014/2015 National Hunt season
In the 2014/2015 National Hunt season Sizing John was campaigned in novice hurdle races and was ridden in all of his races by Jonathan "Johnny" Burke. On his first appearance over obstacles at Naas Racecourse on 2 November she started 5/2 favourite and won by two lengths from Phil's Magic. Three weeks later at Gowran Park he proved no match for the Willie Mullins-trained Douvan and was beaten twelve lengths into second place. In December he was stepped up in class for the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown Racecourse and started the 11/1 outsider in a five-runner field headed by Nichols Canyon. He led from the start and stayed on well over the last two hurdles to win by six and a half lengths from Sub Lieutenant.
On 10 March Sizing John made his first appearance at the Cheltenham Festival when he started a 25/1 outsider for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle. He took the lead at the second last but was overtaken approaching the finalobstacle and finished third behind Douvan and Shaneshill. On his final appearance of the season he faced Douvan again in the Herald Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown in April and was beaten seven and a half lengths into second by his rival.
2015/2016 National Hunt season
Sizing John began the 2015/2016 National Hunt season by competing in novice chases and made a successful debut over fences by winning at Punchestown in October at odds of 2/11. In the following month he stepped up to Group 2 class and started favourite for the Craddockstown Novice Chase at the same track. He disputed the lead from the start, drew clear of his opponents approaching the final fence and won "comfortably" by eight lengths from the Gordon Elliott-trained Lord Scoundrel. Henry de Bromhead commented ""I'm delighted with that. It was a super ride by Johnny and he jumped great... I'd be in no rush to step him up in trip, but he does look like a horse that will go further".