Cue Card camp eyeing rescheduled Peterborough Chase at Taunton

Betfair Chase runner-up Cue Card could be back in action sooner than expected, with the rescheduled Grade 2 Peterborough Chase at Taunton on Thursday under consideration.

Huntingdon’s showpiece race was lost to snow on Sunday but with Taunton stepping in on Monday to stage the race, Cue Card could further bolster the rearranged £50,000 contest.

Reporting the nine-time Grade 1 winner to be in good form, assistant trainer Joe Tizzard told the Guardian they intend to “have a look” at Thursday’s race, which will be staged over 2m5½f rather than the normal two and a half miles.

Cue Card’s last Grade 1 win came over 2m5f at Ascot in February and running at Taunton could set up a potential class with last year’s Peterborough winner Josses Hill, his stablemate Top Notch and top-level winners God’s Own, Ptit Zig and Sire De Grugy among others.

Jean Bishop’s popular chaser, who finished second to Bristol De Mai at Haydock on his latest start, is still entered in the King George on Boxing Day, although connections are yet to commit him to that race, with stablemate Thistlecrack on track for Kempton.

Fresh entries for the Peterborough are due by noon on Tuesday with declarations on Wednesday morning.

"The Peterborough Chase is an historic and important race, and we are pleased to be able to reschedule it," said Stuart Middleton, racing operations manager at the BHA.

"Our thanks go to Taunton for stepping up to stage the race at short notice, and we hope that racegoers, participants and punters all enjoy a fine renewal of a valuable contest."

The going at Taunton, which already has seven races scheduled on Thursday, was described on Monday as good to soft, good in places.

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