Cue Card brilliant at Haydock Cue Card ran out a brilliant winner from Silviniaco Conti to land his second Betfair Chase at Haydock Park. Colin Tizzard's stable star has had well-documented troubles since being successful in this race two years ago and was well-beaten by Silviniaco Conti 12 months ago. However, he showed he was recapturing his form when winning the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby three weeks ago. Silviniaco Conti made a gallant bid to win this race for a third time as he set a good gallop, but Cue Card (7/4) was never far away. The writing was on the wall when Cue Card ranged alongside the 5/4 favourite before the four fences in the straight. Paddy Brennan let the nine-year-old jump his way to the front after the third last and Cue Card drew away to take the prize by seven lengths. "Unbelievable, that was brilliant," he told Channel 4 Racing. "When I rode Imperial Commander I never thought I'd have the chance to sit on another horse as good or even a Gold Cup horse. The way he's done it out there today, he felt like a Gold Cup horse. "It was great to get back on a good horse at Wetherby and today he was awesome. A big win on a big Saturday. "I'd like to dedicate this win to everyone in France, in Paris. I was lucky enough to ride some winners in Auteuil and we are all thinking about them." "That was a brilliant display, possibly a career best, and we've cut him to 5/1 to regain another crown in the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton Park while he's 12/1 to add his name to the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March." Tizzard confirmed that Kempton would be the next port of call. "There's no reason to run away from Kempton. It's the next stop, I'd say. If he's in the form he's in now, the Gold Cup is the ultimate race, so why not?" he said. "He's done it easier today (than two years ago). It was always going to happen, I thought. "It's lovely to have him back. We've taken them all on and he's done it really well. We've had to deal with his problems and now he's back to his very best. He's not a tearaway anymore. You can ride him how you like now." Paul Nicholls, trainer of Silviniaco Conti, said: "Cue Card was very good and there are no excuses. He's run a nice race and they can't win every time. "He jumped a little to the right and we might put the blinkers back on him next time as he races a bit lazily. I suppose we will go to Kempton next." Trainer David Pipe said of third home Dynaste and Ballynagour, who was last of the five,: "Dynaste ran well and we'll see how he comes out of the race before making any plans. The winner was very impressive. "Ballynagour made a couple of mistakes and could not get into the race after that."
