Cue Card trumps them all in thrilling Betfair Chase

Colin Tizzard’s high-class Cue Card proved the ace in the pack in an outstanding renewal of the Grade 1 Betfair Chase at Haydock on November 23 and has now emerged as a genuine contender for top honours in the Cheltenham Gold Cup at the home of National Hunt racing on March 14, writes Elliot Slater.

By general consent this was the best ever renewal of the Betfair Chase, a contest that long ago established itself as a serious trial for the Cheltenham Gold Cup and has been won by some of the top British steepelchasers of recent times. With last year’s winner Silviniaco Conti in the race alongside reigning champion Bobs Worth, former champion Long Run, last season’s star novice Dynaste, and others, Cue Card (9/1) was far from the punters’ main fancy in a race that simply oozed class.

Trainer Colin Tizzard instructed his son Joe to take the bull by the horns aboard Cue Card, a horse who had never previously raced over the distance of three-miles-one-furlong. Clearly believing last year’s Ryanair Chase winner would stay, the pair set off at a good gallop and one by one the big names started to crumble, Bobs Worth, the favourite being one of the first beaten.

Approaching the final fence Cue Card was under strong pressure as he was all but joined by both Silviniaco Conti and Dynaste, but showing tremendous determination and bags of class, he stayed on powerfully on the Haydock run-in to score a superb victory, leaving behind the disappointment of finishing only third at Exeter on his seasonal bow.

Slashed from a pre-race 27 to just 8.8 on betfair.com for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in the spring, Cue Card may next bid for the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day where he could lock horns again with a number of his defeated rivals from the Haydock contest.

Weighty Challenge for Cue Card on Seasonal Return

Colin Tizzard’s high class chaser, Cue Card, is all set to make his seasonal return at Exeter on November 5 when he will bid to land the prestigious Grade 2 BetVictor Haldon Gold Cup Chase for the second year running.

Twelve months ago, the gelded son of King’s Theatre made a successful return to the fray in the Haldon Gold Cup when slamming the useful Edgardo Sol by no less than 26 lengths but, on that occasion, he was rated 157.

A tremendously successful 2012/13 campaign saw the son of King’s Theatre rocket up the ratings, meaning that, if he is to repeat the feat, he will have to do so off a 15lb higher mark and give away at least 17lbs to his nearest rival in this limited handicap.

After winning last year’s race, Cue Card went on to post his only disappointing effort of the term when fifth behind Long Run in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, but he bounced back in February to beat Captain Chris in the Grade 1 Betfair Ascot Chase.

Better was to come though as Tizzard’s charge stormed up the Cheltenham hill at the Festival meeting, slamming the high-class First Lieutenant in the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase, one of the biggest ever successes for his handler.

Ending the season in the Grade 1 Melling Chase at Aintree, it came as no surprise to punters gambling with Betfair when Cue Card failed to lay a glove on the mighty Sprinter Sacre but he ran a fine race to be second to Nicky Henderson’s superstar performer.

Amongst the likely opponents to Joe Tizzard’s mount at Exeter are the progressive William’s Wishes, the formerly very smart Somersby, and Tom George’s Module, fourth in the Grade 1 RSA Chase on his final outing of last season and a potential danger to a Cue Card repeat victory.