Tizzard To Send Cue Jumping Fences

Despite achieving a great deal in his first season over hurdles the decision has been taken by connections of high-class five-year-old Cue Card to go novice chasing this season and abandon any thoughts of bidding for top honours over timber, writes Elliot Slater.

Many people had anticipated that Cue Card would remain for at least one more season over hurdles having shown plenty of ability against smart opposition as he more or less lived up to the high expectations that had been placed on him after his sensational win in the 2010 Cheltenham Festival Bumper, where he beat Paul Nicholls' Al Ferof by an easy eight-lengths. Winners of the Festival Bumper haven't always gone on to make the grade over obstacles, but the King's Theatre gelding did little wrong during his 2010/11 campaign and anyone following the Betfair horseracing betting will have expected him to improve further.

After winning by 13-lengths on his hurdling bow at Aintree over two-and-a-half miles, Cue Card dropped back to the minimum trip and stepped up to Grade 2 level in handing out an eight-length beating to the useful Dunraven Storm in Cheltenham's Sharp Hurdle in November. With a media frenzy surrounding him he then locked horns with the high-class Menorah in the Grade 2 International Hurdle back at Prestbury Park in December and ran with great credit to be a four-length runner-up to Philip Hobbs' top-notch performer. Those looking for horse betting tips would have taken heart from the performance.

After the option to bid for the Champion Hurdle was sensibly ruled out Tizzard's stable star was sent off a hot favourite for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, but after holding every chance going to the last he failed to quicken, but ran creditably to be fourth to old rival Al Ferof. Racing over an extra half-mile at Aintree he again ran well to be second to Spirit's Son in Grade 2 company on his final start of the term.

Reported to have filled out and strengthened up considerably through the summer, Cue Card will be one of the highest profile novice chasers this term and is sure to command plenty of attention.