Ace card makes Tizzard so proud (From Dorset Echo)

Ace card makes Tizzard so proud

3:09pm Friday 15th March 2013 in Sport

COLIN Tizzard was bursting with pride for both horse and jockey after his son Joe guided stable star Cue Card to a runaway victory in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.

Second in last year’s Arkle behind Sprinter Sacre, Tizzard decided against taking on that formidable opponent in Wednesday’s Queen Mother Champion Chase in preference for this longer assignment.

Adopting his customary front-running tactics, the 7-2 chance kept the pressure on his opponents with some slick jumps and although First Lieutenant was still there rounding the home turn, it was clear Cue Card was the one with a spring in his step.

He galloped all the way to the line in the straight to take the Grade One prize by an emphatic nine lengths from First Lieutenant.

Colin Tizzard, saddling his second winner of the week after Golden Chieftain landed Tuesday’s JLT Specialty Chase, said: “Where will I ever find another horse like this? I’ve always said he’s the best I’ve had, the best I’m ever going to get.

“It’s a great moment for Joe and having your son on the horse is the pinnacle, but then again it does have its reverse when things go wrong.”

Regarding the decision to run in the Ryanair, the trainer said: “We sat down with Bob and Jean (Bishop, owners) and we said we could be a yee-haa and take on Sprinter Sacre, but he beat us last year and looked good here on Wednesday.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we took him on again at some point but this was the right decision for the horse, to let him have another Festival win.

“The beautiful part about it is that he loves Cheltenham. He made my spine tingle in the Champion Bum-per, but we have come to expect it from him now.

“We thought at the beginning of the year that we won’t do too much but he can take his racing – we will probably do both Aintree and Punchestown, all being well.”