Just in case you dont have an account with ATR they have a Jumps Preview Website, and after the impressive run for Cue Card today i just thought id post what they said about him before today's run... The bloke who has done the write up is Pro-Punter Andrew Gibson... 6-y-o; bay gelding Breeding: King's Theatre (IRE) - Wicked Crack (IRE) Trained by C L Tizzard Form: 42-1U212 Cue Card won two from his five hurdle races and finished his novice hurdle season with a mark of 151. He has been touted as a future star since winning the Champion Bumper at the 2010 Cheltenham Festival; consequently, he started favourite for all bar one of his hurdle runs and was 15/8 behind the 7/4 favourite Menorah in the other. He began his novice chase career at Chepstow in October and led all the way to run out a satisfactory, if not impressive, odds on winner. He jumped some fences well but also got in close to a couple without being put under any pressure at any point in the race. The second favourite in that race Silviniaco Conti turned out to take high-rank in the novice chase division last season but, like several of his stable companions at that time, he needed the run. Cue Card raced very keenly in the hands of Joe Tizzard at Chepstow as he did in all four of his subsequent chases last season. It is this trait which could continue to make him vulnerable when he races in more competitive chases, particularly when racing over further than two miles. He certainly struggled to last home over that trip at Newbury when being caught on the line by Bobs Worth. Cue Card has been hyped as a potential champion since his impressive win in the Champion Bumper in March 2010; nevertheless, although he may continue to take high-rank in the two mile division, he has still only performed like a potential champion on that one occasion despite now having competed in 12 races. He is clearly a horse that any of us would count ourselves lucky to own; nevertheless, from a betting point of view he will remain a horse to tend away from whilst he continues to attract the levels of media hype and attention that has surrounded his racing career thus far. Cue Card is currently near the top of the market for the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November. In the very likely event of him continuing to race in such an exuberant manner, it is difficult to envisage this competitive two and a half mile handicap chase playing to his strengths, particularly off a mark of 157. After today's run we seem to have a real prospect on our hands... What do we think Cue Card can achieve now...? The Pro-punter thought, before today that is, that the Paddy Power Gold Cup is a bit away from him... Im not so sure you can say that now after today...!!!
I still prefer Sprinter Sacre and Grands Crus against him..anytime, anywhere, any distance ! He is still a cracking horse,however !
Really good run today, hard not to be impressed by it. That said Menorah should return hurdling, and Edgardo Sol will be a decent handicapper, so hasn't beaten much but beat them all with consummate ease. The plan by the sounds of it, is the Peterborough Chase, and then a trip to Kempton. The Ryanair the long term aim all being well. Could be a decent KG horse, as he'll be suited by the 3 miles there.
AS - you'd prefer SS over CC over 3 miles around Kempton in the King George? Brave man. SS is superb, but 3 miles is a bridge too far with him.
If he was mine he'd go for the Tingle Creek. Can't shy away from one horse, and he was only 7 lengths behind Sprinter Sacre in the Arkle.
Nam Ned...Sprinter Sacre won't stay at 2 miles for the rest of his career...just as the likes of Flyingbolt and Master Minded didn't ! Currently, I am happy to take Cue Card on with either of the pair I have mentioned as and when they meet.
Arkle, that's not really much of a statement though is it re Sprinter Sacre? Like saying I'd have Master Minded over Well Chief we all know what the outcome would be! Grands Crus, will be better this year and I think he'll mature into a good chaser. Whether he's top class or not we'll see, but I've have Cue Card over him at any trip for the record.
OK NamNed...you takes your pick and takes your chance ! Let's see what happens as and when they do meet !
I don't think Cue Card will be at his best over 3 miles but apparently he's bred for the trip. The flat 3miles of Kempton will be perfect for Grand Crus but I don't think he wants any further. Not only do I expect Grand Crus and Cue Card to be Ryan Air bound in March, I expect (as I've said in my 3 predictions for the season a few weeks ago) that one of those 2 horses will win the race. That said I did rather assume that Finians Rainbow would be given the right to defend his crown despite the presence of Sprinter Sacre in the Champion.
Just watched the replay and I'm surprised at some of the exuberance around the forum re Cue Card. Firstly he has beaten absolutely nothing today. However Edgardo Sol has got a rating of 157 over fences is beyond me - somewhere near his hurdles rating of 144 would be more appropriate. Menorah is a spring horse - always has been, always will be, and looked only half fit today. Cue Card had every right to demolish that field today in the manner he did. His time was OK in relation to the other races on the card but nothing spectacular. He was again exuberant early in the race but he still doesn't look a fluent jumper, although his jumping did improve as the race went on today. All in all he's probably run to around 150 today and I would question whether he has that much more to offer - he looked fit and ready for this today, unlike his rivals. Talk of the King George and Ryanair is fanciful to say the least, he will have to step up at least 15lbs on today's performance to get anywhere near at the business end of those races.
Not having that as a 150 Oddy imho. I agree he hasn't beaten a massive amount today but he won in a canter. What mark do you think he ran to in the Arkle Oddy? He gave your 'spring horse' a similar battering that day and got close to Sprinter Sacre who had to work a little bit more than he has in other races. Sprinter Sacre will perhaps go on to post 180 in time (I'm totally buying into the BG and NH hype here but it's possible). What about when he gave For Non Stop 7lbs and still won? That form was franked the other day with For Non Stop off of 151! Everything, to me, points to last season Novice Chasers being well above average. Look at how Sanctuaire and Al Ferof ran in open company at the start of this year. I agree the reaction to today has been OTT (on here and in the ante-post markets) but I genuinely think we saw a horse that can/has run in the mid 160s+ and it's great to see him get the credit that I think he's deserved for a long time. I only hope if he proves a non-stayer in the King George that he isn't disregarded like he was after disappointing in the Supreme. Today's performance would have him right in the mix for the Ryan Air in my book but I'm biased as I love the horse and clearly thought that before today anyway
Half a stone below his official rating George 165-170ish would be needed for the ryannair typically, and I think the King George will need at least a 170 performance this year, possibly higher
In my book he's a mid 160s chaser at the very least, based on all known form and I would have thought after a 26L limited handicap win off of 157 he'll finally get a mark near to his ability. Not just today, but running 7L to Sprinter Sacre (who I hope will hit the high 170s perhaps even 180), beaten a head to now 160 rated Bob's Worth when conceding 7lbs (and don't be surprised to see his mark rise either) also beating subsequent Grade 1 winner For Non Stop by 4L when conceding 7lbs. This is a horse more than capable of running to the marks you have mentioned, I really believe that but I agree higher maybe required this year. But to say he's 15lbs short of winning the Ryan Air on today's performance is, in my book, bordering on lunacy!! The Novice Chase division last season was Strong and he proved himself to be 2nd best over his trip to only Sprinter Sacre who many hope will be one of the all time greats.
I wouldn't see any reason to raise his OR on today's performance George, the 2nd and 3rd were clearly miles off their ORs and probably ran nearer to Renard's level (who himself was hammered by Oiseau de Nuit the other week). Rest of the field upper-130s at best today, Cue Card short of his OR today. I also don't believe For Non Stop is a reliable guide and his defeat by Cue Card was on soft, which I don't think he likes. All his best form is on livelier going. As for Cue Card's proximity to Sprinter Sacre, Geraghty never had him out of second gear in the Arkle and he was value for much more than 7L that day. Yes, he plugged on up the hill but that was about it. And the defeat to Bobs Worth doesn't bear scrutiny from a form perspective IMHO - Bobs Worth was not at his best in the first part of last season, it was only after the Reynoldstown that he picked up. I guess we are reading this with slightly different glasses
Slightly off topic but if all the big boys expected to run in the Ryanair actually make it to post, that race is shaping up to be the race of the season.....
Just watched the race, I don't personally think he could have done any more than he did. Yes he was shaken up slightly up the run-in, but I thought his jumping was excellent, he looks a cleverer horse than I had given him credit for, and when he had to stretch for a couple he got to the other side safely. I've always liked Cue Card, but just had this nagging feeling that he's a little short of top, top class, but he's gone up in my estimation today. Don't get me wrong he didn't beat anything special, and Menorah seems to be a horse who performs when he feels like it, but the form through For Non Stop is strong, as I would have to disagree with you Oddy and say that FNS is a reliable yardstick in my humble opinion.
It's all about opinions Joe and I certainly have nothing against the horse - just not convinced quite yet. Did it nicely today though, just saying I don't think today's performance puts him bang in the frame for a King George or Ryanair
