WEATHER DICTATES CUE CARD RETURN

Colin Tizzard will only consider giving Cue Card his debut over fences at Chepstow on Saturday if the ground eases.

The 2010 Cheltenham Festival bumper hero and Grade Two hurdle winner is ready to switch to the bigger obstacles.

As a result, the Dorset trainer has put the five-year-old in the Bet At Bluesq.com On Your Mobile Novices' Chase at the Welsh track.

A 17-strong entry for the two-mile-three-and-a-half-furlong event also includes Silviniaco Conti.

Paul Nicholls' charge, who has also yet to run over fences, was half a length behind Cue Card when the pair were second and third to Menorah in the stanjames.com International Hurdle at Cheltenham in December.

However, the weather needs to break for Cue Card to be seen in action at the weekend.

"It needs to rain. We were 27C on Monday and we're only 70 miles from Chepstow," said Tizzard.

"If they get a good bit of rain that's probably where we'll start.

"He's always been a straightforward horse to train. We've schooled him in the indoor school and he's always jumped well.

"He's only got an entry and we'll be looking at it in the next few days.

"There's no real reason to say he's going to run at this stage. It's only if the ground came right we might have a go. We won't run away from the opposition.

"We always thought he'd be a chaser. We're not exactly sure what his distance is at the moment.

"He's very effective at two miles and I think he'll stay further than two and a half."

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