John Sizing Up Another Win At Punchestown

After some fantastic racing on Saturday there’s even more to look forward to on Sunday with the clash of Sizing John and Djakadam the highlight in Punchestown.

Golden Boy Returns
Taking on a Willie Mullins-trained horse that has managed to win the race two years in a row is no easy feat but Sizing John is a triple Gold Cup winning history maker and he can start this season where he left off by winning the John Durkan at Punchestown today.

This promises to be a fascinating race with the ground certainly suiting Djakadam better than Sizing John but what can’t be forgotten is that Sizing John would be a multiple Grade 1 winner on soft ground over two-miles had it not been for Douvan and the fact that he could step up to win Gold Cups over three and three and a quarter miles should mean that the trip at Punchestown should actually be ideal for Jessica Harrington’s stable star.

What we don’t know is just how much last season has taken out of Sizing John but he hasn’t been over raced before now and he’s still only a seven-year-old. Whether or not he can repeat the heroics of last season remains to be seen but…

Sizing John should start his season by adding another Grade 1 to his portfolio.

Hilly Way Will Be Sceaux Easy
Un De Sceaux is a fairly obvious choice in the feature race at Cork but there was a bit of 4/6 floating around about Un De Sceaux on Saturday and if that price is on offer today punters should take full advantage.

Douvan won the Hilly Way Chase last season while Un De Sceaux was over winning the Tingle Creek and although Un De Sceaux did go down to Fox Norton at Punchestown, that was after winning the Ryanair Chase and none of the other runners in the Hilly Way Chase field can match that type of form. Un De Sceaux is head and shoulders above his rivals here and although the conditions of the race mean he has to give weight away all around, he still meets each of his rivals on better terms than he would in a handicap and…

he could easily be crossing the line alone when his rivals are jumping the last.

Broder To Go In Again
Course and distance winner Broder will have to put in a career best effort if he is to win the penultimate handicap hurdle at Cork but there’s every chance that the five-year-old can do just that.

John Joe Walsh’s charge was very impressive when winning at Thurles last time out and although getting an 11lbs hike from the handicapper for that effort, Ambrose McCurtin will claim 5lbs of that off now as he takes over from Sean Flanagan and Broder makes appeal in a race where Champagne Pat is an obvious danger.

Broder seemed to relish the ground at Thurles last time though and it is expected to be just as testing in Mallow this afternoon and his previous win at the course saw him land a few nice bets so hopefully he can go in again.

Recommended Bets:
Sizing John (6/5) – 2.05 Punchestown
Un De Sceaux (1/2) – 2.20 Cork
Broder (13/8) – 3.20 Cork

*Prices correct at time of publication.