tracked leader and always travelling, challenged 4 out, led narrowly next, already asserted when left clear 2 out, easily
raced wide, tracked leaders, lost place 9th, soon behind, tailed off from 11th
led, joined 4 out, narrowly headed next, chased winner, pushed along and already held when blundered 2 out, weakened, lost 2nd run-in
tracked leaders, outpaced 13th, plugged on into poor 2nd run-in, never any chance with winner
headway on inside tracking leaders 2nd, losing place when mistake 11th, plugged on in modest 4th after 3 out
held up in rear, hit 3rd, not fluent next, headway into modest 3rd place 9th, weakening when hit 3 out, soon behind, tailed off
CUE CARD last ran in this in 2013 and was a six-length winner ahead of Captain Chris, who went one better the following year. Colin Tizzard’s brilliant chaser has won another six Grade 1 races since and only found stablemate Thistlecrack too strong when attempting to win the King George for a second time at Kempton on his latest start. Though he hasn’t raced over a trip this short for almost two years, it’s difficult to envisage defeat for the 11-year-old against a largely sub-standard field. Irish Cavalier did beat the selection in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby in October but that form was comprehensively turned on its head in the Betfair Chase at Haydock the following month. Taquin Du Seuil is more interesting as he won the BetVictor Gold Cup in November and then ran well in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown. Royal Regatta goes well here but was beaten more than 20 lengths when third in this 12 months ago, though is still preferred to Traffic Fluide and Shantou Flyer.
Cue Card 5-4 (11-10) Held up tracking leaders, went 3rd 8th, disputing close 2nd after next, outright 2nd when hit 10th, dropped to 3rd next, tracked winner again 12th, hit next, ridden and no impression before 3 out, just held on for 2nd, 2nd of 5, 3 1/4l behind Thistlecrack (11-10) at Kempton 3m (1) gd in Dec.
Irish Cavalier (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, mistake 12th, not fluent next, ridden 14th, outpaced and no impression before 4 out, weakened after 3 out, left 3rd last, 3rd of 5, dist behind Many Clouds (11-10) at Aintree 3m 1f lst (1) gs in Dec.
Royal Regatta (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Pressed leader until 7th, not fluent 8th, soon ridden and lost place, well behind 4 out, pulled up before next, at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Jan.
Shantou Flyer (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, lost place before 6th, mistake 11th, 8th and well held 3 out, stayed on approaching last, went 4th, no impression, 4th of 13, 10 1/2l behind Foxtail Hill (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Taquin Du Seuil (FR) 20-1 (11-10) Mid-division, 7th halfway, slight mistake 11th, ridden in 9th 2 out, no impression in 7th before last, kept on one pace run-in, 5th of 13, 11 1/4l behind Outlander (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m (1) Yielding in Dec.
Traffic Fluide (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Keen early, soon pressed winner, led narrowly 4th to 6th, in touch, outpaced 4 out, soon no chance with winner, lost place 2 out, weakened before last, last of 4, 32l behind Altior (11-5) at Newbury 2m (1) sft in Feb.
