Minor injury forces Arkle hope Cue Card out of prep race
ByA slight knock on his fetlock joint has resulted in Cue Card missing his intended prep race for the Grade 1 Irish Independent Arkle Chase at Cheltenham on March 13 and means that the smart Colin Tizzard-trained gelding will have to go straight to the festival, writes Elliot Slater.
Cue Card had been expected to take his chance at Newbury on February 16 in the rescheduled Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase, but that plan has been blown out of the water as a result of what is only a temporary setback that should not impact on the basic fitness of the horse who was so impressive at Cheltenham’s showcase National Hunt fixture in 2010 when running away with the Festival Bumper. Those following the horse racing betting will be keeping an eye on things to see if he gets back on track.
Tizzard took the change of circumstances ruefully, accepting that these things happen and that it is not the end of the world to keep the horse fresh for the two-mile novice chasing title event, instead of potentially having a hard race at Newbury little more than three weeks prior to the big race itself and anyone looking for Cheltenham tips will be wondering if he will be at his best.
Cue Card has done well this term since switching to fences, winning on his chasing bow at Chepstow in October against the decent Micheal Flips, before making a typical novices’ error and falling when still travelling strongly at the 11th fence in the Steel Plate & Sections Novices Chase at Cheltenham in November, the race eventually won by RSA Chase favourite Grand Crus. Caught in the last stride by the high-class Bobs Worth in a Grade 2 event at Newbury a couple of weeks later, the son of King’s Theatre returned to the Berkshire track to cosily account for For Non Stop on New Year’s Eve and is currently on offer at a best priced 9/1 to provide Tizzard with another high profile Cheltenham Festival win.
Originally written by Bet123.net, an online Betting Guide
Minor injury forces Arkle hope Cue Card out of prep race
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