CUE’S AIR RAID No Gold run as Tizz points Card at Ryanair Chase

CUE CARD will bid to repeat his victory of 2013 in the Ryanair Chase when he makes his Cheltenham Festival swansong next month.

Reports this week suggested the 12-year-old would bid to make it third-time lucky in the Gold Cup – Cue Card has fallen at the third-last fence in the past two runnings – when he appears at the four-day fixture for the final time.

But, after consultation with the gelding’s owner, Jean Bishop, trainer Colin Tizzard revealed his stable favourite would race in the Ryanair Chase over two miles and five furlongs in preference to the Gold Cup over an extended three and a quarter miles.

Tizzard, whose charge roared back to form with a fine second in the Ascot Chase over the Ryanair Chase trip last Saturday, said: “He has won the Ryanair, this is his last chance and what’s his best chance of winning? We think it’s the Ryanair.”

Cue Card, who won Cheltenham’s Champion Bumper in 2010, is 8-1 to mark his final Festival with a victory.

Alan King’s Redicean defended his unbeaten record over obstacles with a sparkling victory in Kempton’s Adonis Hurdle – and is now 5-1 for the Triumph Hurdle.

Nicky Henderson was purring after Might Bite and Buveur D’Air, favourites for the Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle, worked with stablemate Theinval after racing.

“We’ve got three happy jockeys and three happy horses – so we’ve got one happy trainer,” he said.

THE Betway Winter Derby was decided in the stewards’ room as Master The World, a head behind Mr Owen at the line, was awarded the prize.