Cheltenham Gold Cup contender Cue Card tops seven entries for Saturday’s Betfair Ascot Chase
Tizzard's 11-year-old is looking to get back on the winning trail after finding stablemate Thistlecrack too hot to handle in the King George on his last start
CUE CARD is the star attraction as Saturday's Betfair Ascot Chase attracted just seven entries.
Colin Tizzard's 11-year-old was an impressive winner of the Betfair Chase earlier in the season but couldn't handle stablemate Thistlecrack in the King George on Boxing Day.
This looks a good opportunity for him to get his head back in front before another tilt at the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Tizzard told Racing UK: "Cue Card is going to go. He's been a good old boy for us.
"He's ramping up the gallops this week, we'll give him a school, Paddy (Brennan) is coming down.
"Then it will be straight to Ascot and we'll see how he gets on there."
The biggest threat to Cue Card could be Jonjo O'Neill's Taquin Du Seuil. He won a competitive handicap at Cheltenham in December before failing to get home over three miles in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown.
O'Neill has also left him in the Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock and plans are fluid.
He said: "He is in great order. I've put him in at Ascot and at Haydock over hurdles. I am not sure where he will go yet.
"He will probably go where the ground is softest, but we will see what both races look like.
"He is entered in everything at Cheltenham and there are no hard and fast plans which race he will end up in yet."
Rebecca Curtis has left in Irish Cavalier and Shantou Flyer, while Kylemore Lough could represent Kerry Lee.
The Philip Hobbs-trained Royal Regatta and Gary Moore's Traffic Fluide, who was a distant fourth behind Altior at Newbury on Saturday, complete the field.
Meanwhile at Haydock, Bishops Road remains on course to register back-to-back wins in the Betfred Grand National Trial.
The Kerry Lee-trained nine-year-old features among 24 entries, including stablemate Goodtoknow, for the Grade Three contest.
Rigadin de Beauchene, who claimed the marathon contest in 2015, is one of four potential runners for trainer Venetia Williams who has also left in Houblon Des Obeaux, Emperor's Choice and Katenko.
Becher Chase winner, and leading ante-post contender for the Aintree marathon Vieux Lion Rouge, is one of two entries alongside Doctor Harper for trainer David Pipe.
The weights are headed by Sausalito Sunrise from the yard of Philip Hobbs who is also responsible for the entry of Kruzhlinin.
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls, who is seeking a second win in the race, is another double handed after entering both Vicente and Virak.
