Tizzard expects Card progression
Cue Card, trained by his father Colin, faded quite dramatically just before the final fence in the hands of Tizzard junior and was collared by Silviniaco Conti.
He only returned to action last month and has not fired on all cylinders in finishing fourth in both the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter and Haydock’s Betfair Chase.
But Tizzard junior, who is now his father’s assistant after retiring from the saddle, has not lost faith in their stable star.
“He’s fine at home. He had a good blow after the race at Haydock. Nothing’s come out of it. Physically he’s absolutely A1,” Joe Tizzard told At The Races.
“I think he could possibly be a better horse another day because although he had a race at Exeter, he did blow hard after Haydock and there’s a chance he might improve a little bit more.
“He’s in good nick and it’s all guns blazing for the King George.”
Meanwhile Ruby Walsh will leave it as late as possible before making a decision on his Boxing Day destination.
Two of Willie Mullins’ stable stars, Champagne Fever and Faugheen, are due to be in action at Kempton while Vautour is on target to run at Leopardstown on the same afternoon.
As all three are owned by Rich and Susannah Ricci, Walsh does not need to make an early call.
“It looks like Faugheen will be on the bus to Kempton for the Christmas Hurdle on December 26 to join Champagne Fever’s King George VI Chase assault,” said Walsh in his Paddy Power blog.
“But Vautour has also been pencilled in for the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown on the same day. A lot can happen between now and then, but it’s a dilemma.
“Clearly, I can’t be in two places at once so we’re going to have to make a call closer the time. Mrs Susannah Ricci owns them all so it’s a decision that doesn’t have to be made until the last minute.
“I don’t think the drop back to two miles will bother Faugheen. He’s improved fitness-wise for his win at Ascot but this will be another big step up in class for him.
“We’ll learn a fair bit at Kempton about what we’ve got but I’d be hopeful he can deal with it. The course doesn’t worry me – it’s a flat track – but you still have to stay.
“The hurdle track is on the outside of the chase track so I don’t think he’ll find it too sharp.
“I got touched off in the race before when Binocular beat me on Rock on Ruby, but then Paul Nicholls’ runner won the re-match in the Champion Hurdle. As for tactics – I’ll worry about that on Christmas night.
“I’m presuming Irving will line up and he was a good winner of the Fighting Fifth.”
John Hanlon believes Uxizandre could be the toughest nut for Hidden Cyclone to crack in the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown on December 27.
Runner-up behind Dynaste in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham in March, he has fallen on his two outings since then at Punchestown in May and when he was in the process of running a pleasing race on his return at Thurles.
“He is in great form and while he fell, he came out if his race well the last day. He definitely goes for the Dial-A-Bet at Christmas and I won’t mind as long as it’s not heavy ground,” said Hanlon.
“He ran a cracker in last year’s race (second) and that seemed as good as this year’s, although it’s hard to know what English horses are coming over.
“Sizing Europe was a great horse on his day, but I think his time has come and gone and he is an older horse now so with a bit of luck, we should beat him. I think the English horse of Alan King’s (Uxizandre) is the one to beat.”
Un Ace is more likely to take in Cheltenham’s Ryman Stationary Novices’ Chase on Saturday than an option at Doncaster 24 hours earlier as connections are keen to get experience into the six-year-old.
