Cue Card Trimmed as Connections Point to Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

The race to even-money begins for highly-rated novice Cue Card as conditioner Colin Tizzard has more or less confirmed the five year-old son of King’s Theatre for the Supreme Novices Hurdle. The only thing that would keep Cue Card out of the festival opener would be withdrawls by the leading contenders in the Champion Hurdle – which looks a fascinating affair with a number of top jumpers set to contest that 2m battle.

Cue Card retains his entry for the Champion Hurdle but Tizzard referred to it as a “safety net” when speaking with the Racing Post.

Three of Cue Card’s five career runs were at Cheltenham and it was the scene of his first defeat as he ran second in the StanJames International Hurdle to the respected Menorah – who is in the mix for the Champion Hurdle.

Cue Card made a major statement at last year’s festival by capturing the Champion Bumper against a tough field of 24 when sent off at a hefty 40/1 price tag.

Only one other contender remains at a single-digit price in the Supreme Novices and that’s Nicky Henderson’s undefeated five year-old Spirit Son, who was last seen on Sunday at Exeter conquering a field of six in listed company.

Willy Mullins French-bred jumper Zaidpour (who famously ran fourth to Byword on the flat at Longchamp) has tumbled to 12/1 after a tough beat to Oscars Well in the Grade 1 Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown last Saturday.

Paul Nicholls’ Al Ferof will be attempting to get his revenge on Cue Card after finishing second to him in the bumper last year. The French-bred son of Dom Alco has been head and shoulders above his competition in 2011 with a pair of victories at very short odds.