Cue and Crus set to clash in Steel Plate
Cue Card and Grands Crus are set for a mouthwatering early-season clash in the Steel Plate And Sections Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham tomorrow.
Cue Card has already had one run over fences and did not put a foot wrong in beating two subsequent winners at Chepstow.
David Pipe’s Grands Crus beat all bar Big Buck’s over hurdles at Cheltenham and Aintree last spring and rather than take him on again, connections have decided to tackle a new discipline.
As well as the two big guns, further strength in depth is added by Martin Keighley’s Champion Court, a Grade Two-winning novice hurdler and another who already has winning experience over fences.
Zaynar, the Triumph Hurdle winner of 2009 and third in the Champion Hurdle the following year, runs for Nick Williams and James Reveley while Nigel Twiston-Davies is represented by Sybarite, second to Champion Court at this meeting 12 months ago.
Gary Moore’s useful Vino Griego has already had a season over fences but remains a novice while Paul Nicholls’ multiple point-to-point winner Dualla Lord completes an intriguing line up.
Pipe admits that he would prefer the ground to be softer but is sure the Cheltenham groundstaff will ensure it is safe.
“I’m sure there’ll be a few butterflies tomorrow,” said Pipe. “He improved as the season went on last year. He’s only six, he’s schooled nicely at home and hopefully he can do that on the track and tomorrow is the starting point of his new career over fences. I hope it goes well.
“It’s a small field which I suppose is ideal, but there are some good horses in there. Cheltenham is as good a place as any to start off so I hope he runs well.
“He was always going to start around this time of year but he has probably come to hand a little quicker than we expected.
“I’m sure he’ll improve for his first run but he’s quick enough to do himself justice. We would want the ground softer but as long as it is safe he’ll be fine.”
Colin Tizzard's Cue Card is already a Festival winner having won the Bumper in 2010 on just his second career start.
Last season he looked likely to win the Supreme Novices’ before being found out for a turn of foot and his trainer can eventually see him competing over three miles.
He had the choice of two races this weekend but Tizzard has gone for the longer contest.
“I think he’s shown better form over two and a half miles and I think one day we’ll end up over three miles with him,” said Tizzard.
“I think the ground will be better tomorrow than it will on Sunday and it was two and a half miles last time at Chepstow when he was really impressive in beating two good horses who have won well since.
“This is a natural progression and this was always mine and the owner’s favoured race.
“Cheltenham Bumper winners tend to be three milers and if he was six I would be running him over three, but he’s only five so it’s gently gently with him.
“In the Supreme he came up on the bend tanking as if he was going to run away with it, but he just kept on at the same pace. These specialist two-milers have a kick that he doesn’t have.
“He does stay well. That’s the direction we’re heading for sure.”
