Betfair target for Cue Card Colin Tizzard has nominated the Betfair Chase at Haydock as an early-season target for his stable star Cue Card. The six-year-old shot to prominence with an incredible performance in the 2010 Champion Bumper at Cheltenham and he has continued to impress over hurdles and fences for the past two seasons. He was last seen chasing home the all-conquering Sprinter Sacre in the Arkle Trophy over two miles, but Tizzard can see his charge stepping up to staying trips this season, possibly tackling three miles for the first time on Merseyside on November 24th. "The plan with him is to start off at Kempton in a graduation chase and then we'll see where we go from there," said Tizzard. "I would say the Paddy Power Gold Cup is unlikely as he's rated 157 and carrying top-weight in a 20-runner handicap round Cheltenham doesn't really appeal to me. "I think we could step up to three miles at Haydock. Things might change in the next few weeks, but that's the way we're looking at the moment. "He's a really athletic horse, he looks almost fit enough to run. I think we are going to end up going over three miles with him. There is huge prize-money on offer in those top races and this could be the season to have a go. "If we go to Kempton and then Haydock, then we'll know where we are around Christmas time. We might have to come back in trip, we might not." Cue Card can be backed at 10-1 for the two-mile-five-furlong Ryanair Chase at next year's Cheltenham Festival, while he is a 33-1 shot for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
