Cue Card returns in the Haldon Gold Cup Colin Tizzard reports stable star Cue Card "ready to rock" as he bids to regain his crown in the Vix Technology Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter on Tuesday. The eight-year-old was a brilliant winner of the Grade Two in 2012, but was beaten into third by Somersby 12 months ago, with that rival in opposition again. Following his reverse in last year's renewal, Cue Card went on to claim the Betfair Chase at Haydock before filling the runner-up spot in the King George VI Chase, but missed the rest of the season after suffering a pelvic injury. Tizzard is confident his charge is a fitter horse than he was heading to Exeter last year and is expecting a bold show, with Daryl Jacob in the saddle for the first time following the retirement of the trainer's son Joe in March. Tizzard said: "It will be beautiful to get him started and he seems in really good form. He's been for a racecourse gallop, which he didn't do before this race last year. "A lot of my horses have been needing the run this season, but I don't think he will. He's ready to rock. "Daryl (Jacob) rode him in the racecourse gallop and has been down and schooled him. Everything seems to have gone really well. "Last year we used this race as a stepping stone to the Betfair Chase and I'm sure every horse in the race will be using it as a stepping stone for something." Somersby was in receipt of over a stone from Cue Card a year ago, but carries just 8lb less for the rematch. Mick Channon's charge makes his first appearance since the Punchestown Festival in April. Channon said: "He seems in great form. I couldn't be happier with him really. "He's a few pounds higher in the weights than he was this time last year and he'll come on for the run, but he's fit enough to do himself justice. Fitness-wise, I think he's exactly where he was this time last year. "It's a very good race. Alan King's horses are flying and he runs a good horse (Balder Succes) and you have to have a lot of respect for Cue Card, but we're going there hopeful our horse will run very well." Balder Succes won five times during an excellent novice campaign over fences, including the Grade One Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree. He was a close third behind the Tom George-trained God's Own on his most recent appearance at Punchestown and the two will do battle again in Devon. Speaking on www.alankingracing.co.uk, the trainer said: "I have made no secret of the fact we hope Balder Succes will develop into a Champion Chase contender this season, and this looks the right race to start down that road. "His five victories last season included the Grade One at Aintree and we subsequently got the tactics wrong at Punchestown, where we made too much use of him and he didn't quite get home. "He has summered well and is only six, so you'd like to think he might improve still further this winter." God's Own was a shock 25-1 winner at Punchestown and George is looking forward to getting him back on the racecourse. He said: "He's had a nice summer and he's where we want him at this stage. As his Grade One win at Punchestown was on May 1st, he's actually still a novice for this season, but we just felt we'd give it a go. "He seems to have a preference for going right-handed and the conditions should suit him. We'll see how he gets on and we can go down the novice route afterwards if we want to." The in-form Venetia Williams runs talented mare Pepite Rose, while the Paul Nicholls-trained Hinterland and Oscar Hill from David Bridgwater's yard complete the seven-strong field.
