Cue Card trumps rivals in Ascot Chase romp
The Colin Tizzard-trained Cue Card showed he retains his old zest with a superb performance in the Grade One Ascot Chase, setting up another tilt at the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.
The 11-year-old ran well behind Thistlecrack in the King George last time and was dropping down in trip to two miles and five furlongs for this contest, a race he won in 2013.
However, that seemed to help bring the son of King’s Theatre alive as he attacked his fences brilliantly. After stalking long-time leader Royal Regatta early on, Cue Card took on Philip Hobbs’ gelding down the back straight and the two looked set for an epic battle as they headed into the straight in unison.
However, the 4/9 favourite kicked on under Paddy Brennan after the second-last to register his ninth Grade One win and cement his chances for next month’s Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup. Tizzard’s charge eventually won by a facile and eased down 15 lengths.
Rebecca Curtis’ Shantou Flyer who sat off the stern pace early stayed on well to finish second with long-time leader Royal Regatta three and three-quarter lengths behind in third.
The Jean Bishop gelding is now 6/1 from 8/1 for racing’s Blue Riband event and arguably Britain’s most favourite racehorse, looks to hold every chance of serving it up to his stable-mates Thistlecrack and Native River in the extended three miles and two furlongs event.
A pleased Tizzard commented:
It was lovely to see. The pressure builds up every time he runs because we have a responsibility to him. He’s as good as he’s ever been and the race was made for him today. He’s been about a long time and he’s a favourite for all of us.
Cue Card’s jockey Paddy Brennan remarked:
It was a good performance and the ground is really dead so it’s hard to gauge your pace. I looked around at the last and thought I was three lengths clear and I was 20 lengths clear and that’s what sort of a horse he is. It was on the sharp side for him and I had to wake him up but he came alive. He’s changed my life the last couple of years.
Analysis by Danny Archer
This was a superb performance by Cue Card over a trip which at the age of 11 is arguably an indequate trip for him these days particularly as his stamina-laden qualities have come to the fore in the last few years. Cue Card jumped brilliantly and despite going a furious pace with Royal Regatta up front, he annihilated his rivals coming well clear. He will have a great chance in the Gold Cup and he looks superb value at 6/1 as it would be disappointing if he couldn’t finish in the first three. This could be his last chance to claim a Gold Cup and he has set himself up wonderfully for it.