Cheltenham next stop for Cue Card sibling

A Gold Well half-brother to immensely popular jumper Cue Card features among the 30 initial entries for the Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham November Sale, that takes place after racing on November 17.

The three-year-old gelding had been withdrawn on the second day of this year's Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale, however, Cue Card's breeder Rowland Crellin and his fiancee Treasa O'Keeffe were present at the sale and explained the reason for his absence.

"Basically, he had a clean cert from vet Johnny Stafford [in the days leading up to the sale]," said O'Keeffe. "We then brought him up [to the Fairyhouse sales complex] and he just went off his food and water. He was given penicillin, and the vet advised us to bring him home."

Crellin, who bought Cue Card's dam - the Grade 2-placed King's Ride mare Wicked Crack for €120,000 at Fairyhouse in 2002, added: "The Gold Well gelding is a gorgeous, big scopey horse, so we're very disappointed.

"We bred him and have had him since, and he won't be sold until he is 110 per cent. It wouldn't be fair on the horse or potential buyers. He'll improve for two or three months at grass."

X-factor

"He's the last gelding out of Wicked Crack that will be offered as she was retired this year," said O'Keeffe of the mare.

"We have two half-sisters - a two-year-old by Milan and a Leading Light yearling, which we will keep for breeding.

"We also have the nine-year-old mare The Wicked Kipper, who is Cue Card's only full-sibling."

Cue Card, a son of King's Theatre, has been a dominant force in jumps racing over an admirably long timespan.

Colin Tizzard's charge won the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in 2010 and has landed another eight Grade 1 events since, including three Betfair Chases, the Ryanair Chase and a second Ascot Chase this year.

If the Gold Well gelding shows even a glimmer of his star sibling's ability, whoever makes the winning bid for him at Cheltenham in November should have plenty to look forward to.

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