The 2017 Cheltenham Gold Cup, sponsored
by Timico, featured 13 runners, headed by 3/1 favourite, Djakadam,
who had previously finished runner-up behind Don Cossack in 2016 and
Coneygree in 2015. Indeed, having travelled well for most of the way,
Djakadam looked as if he might break Willie Mullins’ Gold Cup
“hoodoo”, but made a mistake at the second last, having just
taken the lead, and eventually finished fourth, beaten
Victory went to Sizing John, a
7-year-old owned by Alan Potts, trained by Jessica Harrington and
ridden by Robbie Power. Potts said afterwards, "It’s unreal,
it’s my dream and it’s come true. It’s our first runner in the
race, the jockey’s first ride and Jessie's first runner.”
Earlier in his career, for Henry De
Bromhead and Jessica Harrington, Sizing John had been campaigned at
distances short of 3 miles. He actually finished second behind
Douvan, trained by Willie Mullins, seven times over hurdles and
fences at, or around, 2 miles. However, he won on his first attempt
over 3 miles plus, beating Empire Of Dirt in the Irish Gold Cup at
Leopardstown in February, 2017, and dispelled any lingering stamina
doubts with a stylish performance at Cheltenham.
Aided by the departure of 9/2 third
favourite, Cue Card, at the third last fence, Sizing John took up the
running between the last two fences and quickly established a
3-length lead, which he held, more or less, until the winning post.
Minella Rocco finished strongly to snatch second place from 7/2
second favourite Native River, by a head, but the 18/1 chance was
still 2¾ lengths behind Sizing John crossing the line and never
looked like catching the winner.
The winning time, of 6 minutes 36.10
seconds, was 0.90 seconds faster than the standard time for 3 miles
2½ furlongs on the New Course at Cheltenham, which bore testament to
the unseasonably fast – officially “good” – ground.
Unfortunately, Lizzie Kelly, the first female jockey to ride in the
Cheltenham Gold Cup for 33 years, was unseated at the second fence
when her mount, Tea For Two, blundered badly.
