Trainer Colin Tizzard is hoping to steer Cue Card to his third success at the Cheltenham Festival in Friday’s Gold Cup.

The Bay Gelding won his first race at the festival in the Champion Bumper as a four-year-old in 2010, before claiming glory in the Ryanair Chase three years later.

The ten-year-old has been in good form this season, winning all three races he has competed in, including the Betfair Chase at Haydock and the King George at Kempton Park, and Tizzard believes those victories stand the horse in good stead ahead of his first appearance at Cheltenham in three years.

He said: “Cue Card’s three wins this season have put paid to all the doubts about his stamina. For the last two years, we have not got to Cheltenham with him.”

A trapped epiglottis meant that Cue Card could not compete at last year’s festival, but Tizzard insists the bay gelding is currently on top form and he is determined to steer the horse to Gold Cup glory on Friday.

He added: “He is absolutely brilliant at the moment and is the horse of a lifetime. If I could win the Gold Cup, it would be the pinnacle of training – it would last forever.”

Cue Card is available at 5.50 to win the Grade One event, but he will face stiff competition from a tough field that includes Don Cossack, Don Poli, Smad Place and last year’s runner-up Djakadam.