Joe Tizzard expects to see improvement from Cue Card in King George

Joe Tizzard feels there is more improvement to come from Cue Card when the horse bids to erase the memory of last year's agonising defeat in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Cue Card, trained by his father Colin, faded quite dramatically just before the final fence in the hands of Tizzard junior and was collared by Silviniaco Conti.

He only returned to action last month and has not fired on all cylinders in finishing fourth in both the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter and Haydock's Betfair Chase.

But Tizzard junior, who is now his father's assistant after retiring from the saddle, has not lost faith in their stable star.

"He's fine at home. He had a good blow after the race at Haydock. Nothing's come out of it. Physically he's absolutely A1," Joe Tizzard told At The Races.

"I think he could possibly be a better horse another day because although he had a race at Exeter, he did blow hard after Haydock and there's a chance he might improve a little bit more. He's in good nick and it's all guns blazing for the King George."