Cheltenham Festival 2015: Cue Card out of Ryanair

Trainer Colin Tizzard revealed today that his stable star Cue Card had suffered a setback which has ruled him out of the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

The nine-year-old won the race in 2013 and was a 6/1 chance with Coral to regain his crown in the 2m 5f contest on Thursday, March 12th.

However, Tizzard said that Cue Card had made a noise when working and would not be ready in time as he was to undergo a wind op today.
He hopes that the three-time Grade 1 winner will be back in action at Aintree.

Cue Card’s defection has seen Irish handler Shark Hanlon leaning towards another crack at the Ryanair with last year’s runner-up Hidden Cyclone, rather than the Queen Mother Champion Chase over 2m.

The 10-year-old found only Dynaste to good 12 months ago, and looked better than ever when winning the Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown last month.

Hanlon immediately earmarked the Champion Chase for Hidden Cyclone after that success but, with Dynaste already on the sidelines and Cue Card also out, he is now reconsidering and favouring the Ryanair.

The County Carlow handler said: “I haven’t spoken to the owners yet but with Cue Card coming out of the Ryanair, in my own mind I would be tending to lean that way now. It’s not definite as yet. I’ll speak to the owners and I’ll know more after that, but Cue Card coming out does open the Ryanair up that bit more.”

Hidden Cyclone is 8/1 with Coral for the Ryanair with fellow Irish raider Don Cossack remaining the solid 3/1 favourite.

Scu hoping good ground will give Sensation a Grand chance
Herefordshire-based trainer Michael Scudamore hopes a breathing operation and better ground will enable Next Sensation to get back to his best in the Grand Annual Chase at the Cheltenham Festival on Friday, March 13th.