Cue Card and Paddy Brennan© Photo Healy Racing
Cue Card will run in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, trained Colin Tizzard has announced
The popular 12-year-old has fallen in the last two renewals of the Cheltenham Gold Cup over three and a quarter miles, while he won the two-mile-five-furlong Ryanair in 2013.
Having returned to form at Ascot last week when second to Waiting Patiently over that shorter trip, Tizzard and owner Jean Bishop have opted to go over that distance again at Cheltenham.
"We've discussed it and we thought he was in very good form over two-five, he has won the Ryanair, and the Gold Cup is a hard race and the best chance of winning is the Ryanair," said Tizzard.
"It was not a hard decision in the end. Our heads are ruling our hearts and it's the most obvious race for him and we can concentrate and go straight on into it.
"He is race fit and if we take that form from here to Cheltenham, we will have a chance. Paddy (Brennan) will be on board."
