Cue Card could run in Champion

Colin Tizzard has refused to rule out the possibility of Cue Card taking on Binocular and Menorah in the Champion Hurdle next month.

Last season's runaway winner of the Champion Bumper is favourite for the extended two-mile Grade One Supreme Novices' Hurdle, the curtain raiser to the Festival.

Earlier this season, the five-year-old slammed his rivals at Aintree in a novices' hurdle and followed up with an easy victory in a Grade Two novices' event at Cheltenham.

Though beaten by Menorah in the International Hurdle at Cheltenham, trainer Tizzard hinted that he could take him on again. "I thought it was a lovely run last time because I had reservations beforehand," said Tizzard.

"He didn't have a gallop 10 days beforehand because of frost. We could only work him on sand and I thought he was a gallop short.

"We may take on Menorah again, or we may not. I haven't decided either way about the two races and it will be a late decision. He's just started his fast work now."

The gelding is currently 9-4 for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle with Paddy Power and 20-1 for the Champion Hurdle. Binocular heads the betting for the hurdlers' crown at 3-1 with Hurricane Fly 4-1.