2017 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Sizing John is set for a pre-Christmas warm-up around the Curragh, ahead of his eagerly-anticipated return over the festive period.
The Jessica Harrington-trained 8yo also landed the Irish and Punchestown Gold Cup's in that memorable season, but has been off the track for nearly 12 months, since putting in a below-par performance in the Leopardstown Christmas Chase.
That race is very much his target again, as last year's effort was blamed on him suffering a fracture in his pelvis, which therefore resulted in him being unable to make a challenge in retaining his Cheltenham Crown.
The one-time Supreme Novice third has been sidelined ever since, but Harrington reports her stable star to be fit and well, having recovered from the injury.
(Credit: At The Races) She said: “He’s in good form. He’s going to work tomorrow, having not gone today, because the ground was too quick at Punchestown. He’s going to do a bit at the Curragh just to get him away from home.
On his Christmas plans, Harrington said: "He’s in both the Paddy’s Rewards Club ‘Sugar Daddy’ Chase over two miles and a furlong or the three-mile Savills Chase. We’ll see how he is and what the ground is like.”