Paddy Power Gold Cup saturday

Poquelin big runner CARD

Cue Card running today scotia

Cheers Bob, this one for the wages (tu)

Big test today

wages paid just checked balance, so how good is my horse Bob? (tu)

Wont win at the festival

I will be sticking with this one Bob!

Cue applause as Card proves ace in the pack

Report: Cheltenham, Friday

Cheltenham Collection Sharp Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m½f, 4yo+

CUE CARD continued his meteoric rise through the ranks by destroying a high-class Grade 2 field, with racegoers bursting into applause over half a furlong out as he came home a comfortable eight-length winner.

Bookmakers were even more impressed, with Paddy Power slashing the Colin Tizzard-trained four-year-old to 7-4 (from 6) for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle. Blue Square and William Hill go 5-2, while Ladbrokes, Stan James and Totesport offer 3-1.


Jockey Joe Tizzard said: "Today was the first time they went a real gallop. That's the next stepping stone done. This is his trip. We've got plenty of options but I think it'll be two miles for now."

The Champion Bumper winner, who won over 2m4f on his hurdling debut at Aintree, had no problem with the drop in trip and spreadeagled his rivals with a devastating turn of foot in the home straight.

Racing in third off a decent gallop set by Ballyadam Brook, who stayed on for third, Cue Card settled far better than at Aintree, where he had pulled in the early stages.

At the top of the hill, the big lead Ballyadam Brook had been allowed by the field had been eroded, with Dunraven Storm and Cue Card, the first two in the betting, looming large.

The Philip Hobbs-trained Dunraven Storm took over the front-running role, but was able to do little more than give the 8-13 favourite a nice tow into the home straight.

As the pair turned for home, Tizzard allowed Cue Card an inch more rein and he killed the contest in a matter of strides.

Bunny-hopping the last, Tizzard asked the favourite to quicken and he powered up the hill in similar fashion to his breathtaking bumper win at the Cheltenham Festival.

The reception as Tizzard approached the line was rapturous, his audience aghast at the devastating performance they were privileged to witness.


"It was everything we hoped for," said a delighted Colin Tizzard. "It was a completely different race to last time, as it was a fast-run two miles, but he jumped well and stayed up the hill. We'll have to mind him a bit now."

Joe Tizzard added: "They went a real good gallop. He came straight back on the bridle after I slapped him down the neck three out.

"I squeezed him to attack the last as it won'talways be that easy and it's a learning curve. I still haven't hit him behind the saddle - he might take off if I do."

Tizzard had previously said the Champion Hurdle would not be out of the question for Cue Card and he is as short as 14-1 with Coral, although both Ladbrokes and Blue Square offer 20-1.

With uncertainty still surrounding Cue Card's possible Cheltenham target, Blue Square have made him a 2-1 chance to win any race at the festival.

Long Run for the Cup

Pipe said earlierin the wook the Long Run was a good thing,wouldn`t be surprised if his runs him close,I have had a good e/w beton Poquelin at 20/1

Could only manage 3rd, but we were not betting on the race.

TRAINER Noel Glynnsaid he was disgusted after his horse Gonebeyondrecall was withdrawn from the Paddy Power Gold Cup when the starter found that he was not wearing the visor with which he was declared to run.

The seven-year-old, who had travelled over from Ireland after winning two of his last three starts, was wearing headgear of a sort, but they were half-cup blinkers, and not what the British authorities could accept as visors.

Stipendiary steward Colin Vickers said: "He arrived at the start wearing what we would call blinkers. By our definition, a visor has to have some sort of opening at the back to permit rearwards vision, and these had no holes."