Card team prepare for
Sacre clash at Newbury

CUE CARD is set to have his last outing before the Racing Post Arkle Chase in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury next weekend and his rider Joe Tizzard is relishing the opportunity to meet Cheltenham favourite Sprinter Sacre.

Trained by Colin Tizzard for Jean and Bob Bishop, Cue Card is the general 8-1 fourth favourite for the Racing Post Arkle after securing a second victory from four over fences at Newbury on New Year's Eve.

The six-year-old, winner of the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival in 2010, will head back to Newbury for his final outing before the next month's extravaganza where he will race outside novice company for the first time in the 2m1f contest- run this year as the Betfair Super Saturday Chase.

However, his stiffest challenger is likely to be the Nicky Henderson-trained Sprinter Sacre, who leapt to favouritism for the Racing Post Arkle after defeating Peddlers Cross at Kempton over Christmas.

Writing in his Wincanton racecourse blog, Tizzard said: "I'm most looking forward to Cue Card in the Arkle.  We're heading to Newbury on February 11 for a spin in the Game Spirit and are likely to encounter Sprinter Sacre.

"It will be our final outing before the Festival. If we win, we'll be favourite for the Arkle and I'm delighted to report that Cue Card's in cracking form at home."