21st-Nov-2015

I am backing Cue Card for the Betfair Chase at 3/1.  There is no rocket science to this, it’s just that it looks like a shoot-out between Cue Card and Silviniaco Conti, and the disparity between the two horses’ odds is greater than it should be in my book.

Silviniaco Conti is a top class staying chaser, and he has won two of the last three renewals of this race, but Cue Card has won the other, and he is also top class.

Colin Tizzard’s horse has had his issues, but the performance that he put up in landing the Charlie Hall Chase on his debut this season told you that those issues were behind him, at least for now.

On that performance, it is difficult to see how Dynaste or Ballynagour can beat him.  They got close to him at Wetherby on the run to the final fence, but Cue Card was idling in front.  When they closed, he pulled out more, he won going away and he probably had a fair bit more in hand than the four-length winning margin.

As well as that, Cue Card put up the best performance of his life when he won this race in 2013.  He just set off in front and went further and further clear.  He obviously goes well at the track and at this time of year, and that all augurs well for a return to the venue.

Really heavy ground would have been a worry, but it will probably be more soft than heavy, and that should be ideal.  It is easy to see him getting into a nice even rhythm for Paddy Brennan, and hopefully beating off all challengers in the home straight.

CUE CARD WON (ADV 3/1, SP 7/4)