Sizing John out of Betfair Chase due to going concerns
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
By Racinguk.com staff
Sizing John will not run in Saturday's Betfair Chase at Haydock, trainer Jessica Harrington has confirmed.
Conditions for the opening leg of the Jockey Club's Triple Crown are set to be testing after heavy appeared in the going update on Wednesday.
Clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright reported the Merseyside venue to have been in the grip of a wet spell of weather in recent days, but is anticipating an improvement in the forecast before the weekend feature.
Despite this the Grade One event is likely to be contested on soft ground at best, which is too much for the Gold Cup winner on his first start since Punchestown in April.
Last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup winner will be re-routed to the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown on December 10.
"Sadly he's not running because the ground is soft, heavy in places and there's a bit more rain due," said Harrington.
"It's just the ground. I've been a bit worried all week. I didn't mind soft, genuine soft ground, but when they start putting heavy into Haydock, it gets very heavy.
"Plan B will be the John Durkan and then we'll take it from there."
The decision means Sizing John will not be attempting the £1million bonus offered by the Jockey Club to a horse that wins the Betfair Chase, the 32Red King George VI Chase and Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup in the same season.
Tellwright revealed on Wednesday that the chase course is soft, heavy in places and the hurdles course is soft.
"We have had three wet days with four millimetres, 10mm and 14mm of rain, with today forecast to be another wet day," he said.
"However, it is forecast to improve on Thursday with just showers and I think it will settle down.
"It will certainly be no better than soft ground on Saturday, but the question is the extent to which 'heavy' features in the going report."
Traffic Fluide will take his chance in Saturday's race, however, rather than tackle an alternative engagement at Ascot.
Traffic Fluide is a best-priced 25-1 for Saturday's race. (PA)
Gary Moore entered the seven-year-old in the Grade Two Christy 1965 Chase along with the Grade One feature on Merseyside, after he finished fourth in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree on his return.
However, Traffic Fluide will take the top-level option and step up to three miles for the first time, with Moore expecting testing ground to suit.
He said: "He goes to Haydock - I would say the opposition is more of a worry than the trip. It's a tough race. It will be the first time he's really got his ground, he didn't really get it last year.
"He likes it testing and it might just help level it up a bit.
"Sizing John is obviously the one we all have to beat, it's almost like a Gold Cup, but we're keen to give it a go and so is the owner, so we'll take our chance."
While Traffic Fluide will not be heading to Ascot, stable stalwart Sire De Grugy will go to Berkshire for the Shawbrook Handicap Chase.
The former two-mile champion won the race last year before going on to be placed in the Tingle Creek.
Moore added: "He definitely runs and he's in good heart."
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