---
title: "Card and River heading to Aintree"
canonical: "https://readhorseracing.com/2017/03/21/card-river-heading-aintree/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Daniel Archer"
section: "News"
published: "2017-03-21T22:29:48Z"
modified: "2017-03-21T22:29:48Z"
---

# Card and River heading to Aintree

Colin Tizzard issued a positive bulletin on Gold Cup runners Cue Card and Native River as he suggested both staying chasers could head to Aintree.

Native River was a superb third in racing’s blue riband event after leading for most of the way and was just tapped for toe in the closing stages as he struggled to keep pace with the impressive Sizing John, eventually finishing third, a short-head behind second-placed Minella Rocco.

As for Cue Card, the King’s Theatre gelding looked beaten in this year’s renewal of the extended three and a quarter mile event as he fell at the third last fence for the second consecutive year under Paddy Brennan, in what looked a nasty tumble. Thankfully horse and rider were fine and Dorset handler Tizzard, who failed to gain a winner at this year’s Festival will now look ahead to Cheltenham with the two horses.

Tizzard suggested the gelding’s could face off in the Bowl Chase over three miles, although Cue Card could potentially head for the Melling Chase. He said: “*Both horses had a canter this morning and they’re absolutely fine. Cue Card didn’t look like he was going to win when he came down, but if you watch the replay of last year’s race he didn’t look to be going anywhere at the fourth-last and then at the third-last it looked like he’d just jumped in. He wasn’t going as well as last year, but he’s come back fine and that’s the main thing.*

“*The other horse (Native River) ran his race, I think. He got nutted for second and the winner (Sizing John) is a very good horse. We’ll see how they are nearer the time, but they could both go to Aintree, or one might wait for Punchestown. There’s a lot of prize-money on offer, so I wouldn’t be against running the two against each other again. Having said that, we know Cue Card is effective over two and a half miles as well, so he has that option (Melling Chase) at Aintree, too.*”

Fox Norton also ran a cracker for Tizzard when finishing second to Special Tiara in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. The trainer added: “*Fox Norton is fine. We did have him entered in the Ryanair as well as the Champion Chase and the way he stayed on so well, you wouldn’t be worried about stepping up in distance.*

“*But all we’re concentrating on at the moment is keeping the horses fit and well. Unless they’re 100 per cent, they won’t go anywhere.*”

The trainer also gave a mention to Finian’s Oscar who missed the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at The Festival after suffering a setback. He remarked: “*He is back sound and is back working. Whether we get to Aintree or Punchestown or not, we’ll have to wait and see.*

“*It was disappointing to miss Cheltenham, but it’s not the end of the world and horses like him don’t come around too often.*

“*We won’t be too worried if we have to wait for the autumn. Once they’ve had a holiday for six weeks, it soon comes around.*”