Tizzard’s top pick right on Cue for Cheltenham

CUE CARD storms home
to win Grade 1 Ascot Chase

The 11-year-old
swept to his ninth Grade 1 success with a notable performance in the Grade 1
Ascot Chase on Saturday.  Ridden by Paddy Brennan, CUE CARD pulled
away at the second last fence before going on to win by 15 lenghts.  CUE CARD will
head to Cheltenham next month with the Gold Cup firmly in his sights.  

Aidan Kennedy
purchased CUE
CARD at the 2009 Derby Sale from Goldford Stud for
€52,000. CUE
CARD was also purchased at the 2007 February National
Hunt Sale by Aiden Murphy.

SUTTON PLACE wins Grade 2 Boyne
Hurdle

SUTTON PLACE made it
five out of five over hurdles at Navan yesterday where he ran out a commanding
winner of the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle by 3¾ lengths.  The six-year-old
gelding, a graduate of the Derby and November National Hunt Sales, delivered a
faultless round of jumping to win the race for JP McManus, Barry Geraghty and
Gordon Elliott. 

SUTTON PLACE was initially
sold by James Leahy at the 2011 November National Hunt Sale as a foal to Sean
Wickham for €4,000. Then later sold for €45,000 at the 2014 Tattersalls Ireland
Derby Sale by Woodbrook Stud to Kieran McManus.

BALLYCASEY lands
Grade 2 Red Mills Chase at Gowran

On his return from a
mid-season rest, BALLYCASEY ran
out a resolute winner of the Grade 2 Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park on
Saturday.  The Willie Mullins trained grey gelding approaching the last
had the stamina to pull clear and finish by 4¼ lengths.

He was purchased as a
foal for €45,000 at the 2007 November National Sale by Ian Ferguson from
Richard Tanner,  and for a second time at the 2011 Tattersalls Ireland
Point to Point Sale for €80,000 to the HK/WPM Partnership. 

BIGBADJOHN
returns to form to win the Grade 2 Novices’ Chase at Ascot 

BIGBADJOHN
got his season back on track after a thrilling victory in the Grade 2
Novices’ Chase at Ascot. The eight-year-old was third coming to the last, and
won by a whisker on the line for trainer Rebecca Curtis.

BIGBADJOHN was sold in the
Horses in Training section of the 2015 Derby Sale by Rathclough House Stud
and secured by GPC Bloodstock for €40,000.