Cue Card out of Festival

Cue Card has been ruled of the Cheltenham Festival after suffering a setback.

The eight-year-old appeared bound for a tilt at the Cheltenham Gold Cup following success in the Betfair Chase at Haydock and a fine second in the King George VI Chase at Kempton.

However, with little over two weeks to go, Cue Card has pulled muscles and Dorset trainer Colin Tizzard has had no option but to take him out of the Betfred-sponsored Gold Cup and Ryanair Chase reckoning.