Cheltenham Gold Cup hero SIZING JOHN made a successful start to the new season when running out an impressive winner of the Grade 1 John Durkan Chase at Punchestown on Sunday. An early mistake was his only blip in the two and a half mile contest and he took the lead from the third last under Robbie Power, striding home strongly on unsuitably heavy ground to win by seven lengths. Favourite Djakadam was denied this third consecutive win in the race back in second. The seven-year-old took his earnings past €880,000 with the win; no comparison to the €16,000 John Bleahen paid for him as a foal at the November NH Sale at Tattersalls Ireland.

Meanwhile, over at Cork, fellow Tattersalls Ireland graduate SHATTERED LOVE (IRE) ran out a clear winner of the Grade 3 Kerry Group Mares Novice Chase for Gordon Elliott and Gigginstown House Stud. A Grade 3 winner over hurdles, the six-year-old won her first two starts over fences before a Grade 2 second against the boys last time out. With Jack Kennedy back on board, she was sent off favourite and made all, never threatened as she stretched her winning margin to ten lengths on the line.

A €50,000 buy at the Derby Sale, SHATTERED LOVE (IRE) was bred by Limetree Stud and is a half-sister to Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase victor Irish Cavalier and useful chaser Make A Track (IRE). They are out of Tracker, an unraced half-sister to Grade 1 Champion Hurdle winner Make A Stand. SHATTERED LOVE (IRE) is a daughter of Castle Hyde Stud sire Yeats (IRE)