McFabulous chance of another Kauto Star success for Nicholls

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McFabulous and Gelino Bello give Paul Nicholls the ace hand in his bid for a record sixth victory in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton.

The Ditcheat handler is currently tied with Nicky Henderson in a race he won most recently with King George favourite Bravemansgame 12 months ago, and appears intent on adding to his tally.

As the choice of stable jockey Harry Cobden, McFabulous is the favourite for this year’s renewal, having claimed a second win over fences in impressive style at Newbury last month.

Bryony Frost is called up to partner his stablemate Gelino Bello, who was a Grade One winner over hurdles at Aintree in the spring and is two from two since being sent over the larger obstacles.

Nicholls told Betfair: “He doesn’t mind a bit of cut in the ground, he just doesn’t want deep, heavy ground on a stiff track. He’ll be fine, a small field suits him and he’s improved massively for jumping fences.

“He looks fantastic, the best shape he’s been in and he’s probably the one to beat.

“Gelino Bello is a very smart horse, he’s won his last four but lacks a bit of experience as he’s only been in small fields, so we thought we’d let him take his chance and it will put him in good stead win, lose or draw for the spring.

“You can’t rule the others out, it’s a good race.”

Thyme Hill has a point to prove
Thyme Hill has a point to prove (David Davies/PA)

The clear threat to the Nicholls pair is the Philip Hobbs-trained Thyme Hill.

The top-class staying hurdler was six and a half lengths behind McFabulous at Newbury, however, prompting connections to reach for the cheekpieces ahead of the rematch.

Nicholls’ former protege Dan Skelton is represented by exciting mare Galia Des Liteaux, with Fergal O’Brien’s Mortlach completing the quintet.

Henderson hoping for Christmas masterclass from Constitution Hill

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Nicky Henderson is feeling a mixture of nerves and excitement as the brilliant Constitution Hill prepares to strut his stuff once more in the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.

The five-year-old looked a star in the making last season, with 14 and 12-length Sandown wins followed by a scarcely believable 22-length romp in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

And having seen his charge pick up where he left off in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle last month, Henderson recognises anything less than fireworks on Boxing Day will leave many underwhelmed.

“He seems to be absolutely fine. He did a bit of work last week, Nico (de Boinville) rode him then and Sean who rides him all the time is very happy with him,” the Seven Barrows handler told Unibet.

“It’s difficult because everybody is getting to the point where only one thing will satisfy everybody, so he’s going to have to keep producing these ridiculous performances. Let’s hope he can.

“You are very lucky to find horses like these. It was the same with Sprinter Sacre and Altior so there is no point bemoaning the fact people want to know about them, I’m enjoying it and I hope Michael (Buckley, owner) is too.

“The trouble is these horses are so fickle, everything has got to keep going the right way. His last three performances were pretty amazing by any standards and he’s got to keep at that level and keep in one piece too – that’s where we come in.

“There’s a certain amount of responsibility and a certain amount of trepidation about it.”

The biggest threat to Constitution Hill appears to be his stablemate Epatante, who is no slouch herself as a Champion Hurdle heroine and dual Christmas Hurdle winner.

Epatante winning last year's Christmas Hurdle
Epatante winning last year’s Christmas Hurdle (Steven Paston/PA)

But she was 12 lengths behind Constitution Hill when bidding for a third Fighting Fifth last month – and after an intended tilt at Cheltenham’s International Hurdle was scuppered by the weather, Henderson has little option but to let them lock horns once more.

He added: “Epatante is in very good form herself. She won this last year by miles and is a very good mare.

“Having missed the International, we are almost forced to run her – there’s nowhere else to go.

“I was quite keen to try her over further, but they (owner JP McManus’ team) were quite keen to run again and the prize-money is good, so they’ll take each other on.

“At least they can’t say we are ducking and diving!”

Metier winning the November Handicap at Doncaster
Metier winning the November Handicap at Doncaster (Nigel French/PA)

Alan King saddles stable stalwart Sceau Royal, while Harry Fry’s Metier reverts to the jumping game after winning the November Handicap on the Flat at Doncaster.

“We were delighted with that run back on the Flat at Doncaster and we’ve been waiting for his conditions,” Fry told Sky Sports Racing.

“Like so many others, plans A, B and C have gone out the window. We were training him for Ascot last weekend and he was in at Lingfield on Monday, which was sadly lost to the weather as well.

“This was not necessarily high up on our list of races, but he’s ready to run and needs to run. We’re taking our chance and with a clear round, hopefully we can pick up a bit of prize-money.

“He won so well at Lingfield last year on their valuable Winter Million card and we’re hoping to go back there with him.”

Chris Gordon’s outsider Highway One O Two completes the line-up.

Goshen heading into the unknown for Long Walk assignment

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Gary Moore will be an intrigued onlooker when Goshen tackles three miles for the first time in the Ladbrokes Long Walk Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day.

The one-time Champion Hurdle hope embarked on a novice chasing campaign at the start of the season, but a disappointing first effort over fences meant that plan was swiftly aborted.

Goshen may not always be the easiest to predict, but he is a force to be reckoned with on a going day, as he proved when winning the two-and-a-half-mile Coral Hurdle at Ascot last month.

The cancellation of Ascot’s Long Walk card and the subsequent switch to Sunbury means the six-year-old will visit Kempton for the first time since running on the all-weather four years ago. But Moore does not expect the change of venue to be a problem.

He said: “We’re looking forward to it to a certain extent, it’ll be interesting.

“I don’t see any reason why he won’t stay – he’s a pretty relaxed horse. He’ll need to stay in that company, so we’ll see.

“It wasn’t until he ran at Ascot last month that we thought about it (stepping up in trip) as he didn’t really get going until he turned into the straight that day.

“He’s so limited as to what races he can run in as he has to go right-handed and can’t really run in handicaps, so it was either run over two miles in the Christmas Hurdle or over three in the Long Walk.

“They’re getting a nice drop of rain, which is good for us, and if he does stay the trip it will give us a few more options.”

Two horses who have been there and very much done it over three miles are familiar foes Champ and Paisley Park.

The 10-year-olds treated Newbury racegoers to a humdinger in their latest clash in last month’s Long Distance Hurdle, with Nicky Henderson’s Champ repelling the late thrust of Paisley Park by a neck.

“It was disappointing Ascot was off but it is good they keep the Grade Ones, which is important,” Henderson told Unibet ahead of the rematch.

“It hasn’t inconvenienced Champ. I’m not sure Kempton is a great track for him as he tends to go a little left, mind you Ascot is right-handed as well and he’s won there.

“Kempton is a little tighter and it possibly won’t suit Paisley Park either, so we’re probably both in the same boat and something else might come and beat them!”

Paisley Park’s trainer Emma Lavelle has similar thoughts to Henderson on the suitability of Kempton for her stable star, but is nevertheless happy to roll the dice.

She said: “He’s unbelievable, he really he is. He seems to be absolutely flying in himself and came out of Newbury really well.

“I have to say I was kind of surprised at just how well he did run at Newbury, with it being his first run of the season on ground that would have put the emphasis on speed rather than stamina. I was absolutely thrilled with how he ran – thrilled and gutted at the same time.

“But the fact that he is still prepared to put that much into his races and run to that level just shows what an extraordinary horse he is.

“The track is clearly not ideal and he’s going to have to run to his absolute best to win a race like that on a track like that, but who knows?”

Miranda has won at Kempton before
Miranda has won at Kempton before (Steven Paston/PA)

The small but select field is completed by the Paul Nicholls-trained Miranda, who won a Listed prize over the course and distance a month ago but faces a significant step up in grade, and Hughie Morrison’s Not So Sleepy.

Nicholls told Betfair: “She returns to Kempton in top form after a career best at this track last time in a Listed mares’ race, which she won decisively on her first attempt at three miles.

“She ran very well on the Flat before that, wants this trip now and the rain they have had at Kempton should have helped her cause.

“I suspect that the track at Kempton might not be ideal for Champ and Paisley Park, while it is perfect for Miranda.

“I’m glad this race is at Kempton not Ascot and Miranda must have a great chance in receipt of 7lb from the boys.”

Dettori backed to make his final year as good as ever

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Frankie Dettori heads into his final year in the saddle with “as good ammunition as he has ever had” according to Jamie McCalmont, racing manager to one of his main backers, owner Marc Chan.

McCalmont has known the magical Italian for over 30 years – first meeting each other in California in 1988. And they have enjoyed notable success together ever since with Dettori steering numerous big winners for the various owners the renowned bloodstock agent has represented.

Now with the 52-year-old set to embark on one final quest for big-race success around the globe – starting at Santa Anita back in California on Monday – McCalmont believes the fact that only William Buick and Ryan Moore can command an equal book of rides is testament to how good Dettori remains ahead of his year-long swansong.

Frankie Dettori (centre) with the trophy after winning the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes with Kinross
Frankie Dettori (centre) and Jamie McCalmont (right) celebrate with their trophies after winning the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes with Kinross (John Walton/PA)

“I think it’s a great idea to go out on top and I fully respect that,” said McCalmont.

“But from a personal, selfish point of view, it is really sad for me because for the last how many years, whenever he rode a winner it gave you a good feeling. It might sound strange but every winner he rode I enjoyed, it didn’t matter who he was riding for. So life for me will be different.

“Santa Anita was where we first met each other and that was in 1988 just before his birthday. I think it is very exciting he is going to Santa Anita – that is where it all began and looks like it is where it is all going to end. I think his commitment is 100 per cent there and shown by the fact he will be there on Boxing Day and will be there right through the winter.

“He certainly goes into next year with as good ammunition as he has ever had. Between John and Thady Gosden, Marc Chan, Juddmonte and the odd spare ride in the big races for Coolmore, he’s got plenty to look forward to.

“I think other than Ryan Moore and William Buick there will not be another jockey in the weighing room with the options he will have heading into next year. To be 52 and still in that zone is an impressive place to be.”

In recent years Dettori has been a regular in the white, purple and gold silks of Chan, striking in Group One contests at both ParisLongchamp on Arc day and on British Champions Day aboard Kinross earlier this year, before going down by the barest of margins when making the trip to Keeneland for the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

The Ralph Beckett-trained Kinross will be back as a six-year-old to fly the flag for the Chan operation, but there is a whole host of talented youngsters, including champion two-year-old filly Lezoo, poised for their Classic season who could give Dettori plenty of days in the spotlight.

“If 2023 is half as good as 2022 then we would be more than happy,” McCalmont continued.

“We won three Group One races and if you are involved with a racing stable and can win one Group One you have had a good year. So we set the bar pretty high and to try and equal that or better it would be some effort.

“The exciting thing about Kinross is he is a Group One horse from six furlongs to a mile and he can run on any type of ground, so it is a great position to be in.”

“We didn’t go to Hong Kong this year and doing the Breeders’ Cup and Hong Kong can be a difficult thing, so I’m not promising anything at this stage that he will go to Santa Anita because you would obviously like to run on British Champions Day again as well.

“But we do have some nice, slightly under the radar two-year-olds other than Lezoo that are turning three. Bold Discovery is there with Jessie Harrington, Quantum Cat (Gosden) and the Zoustar filly with Harry Eustace, Couplet.

“You have to be excited by Quantum Cat. Judging by the odds he went off for his first race, he hadn’t been drilled for the race.”

Haggas salutes huge team effort that led to memorable 2022

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William Haggas is keen to praise the staff at his Somerville Lodge base as he reflects on the 2022 season where he just missed out on a first trainers’ championship title.

The all-conquering Baaeed was the figurehead of Haggas’ squad during the 2022 campaign, collecting four Group One prizes to add to the two he won in 2021.

But he was not the only Haggas inmate to thrive on the track as 101 individual horses have found the scoresheet among his current tally 166 winners for the calendar year, while he has amassed over £5.8million in prize-money – a total which saw him push defending champion Charlie Appleby all the way to the line.

Baaeed, here winning the Juddmonte International at York, was one of the stars for William Haggas in 2022
Baaeed, here winning the Juddmonte International at York, was one of the stars for William Haggas in 2022 (Mike Egerton/PA)

Baaeed’s defeat in his swansong on British Champions Day ultimately proved crucial in missing out on a first trainers’ crown, but Haggas is refusing to complain as looks back on his stable’s achievements in 2022 and points out the fact he finished over £700,000 clear of the rest of the training fraternity as proof there is plenty to celebrate and a testament to the hard work of his employees.

He said: “We’ve had a great year this year, obviously Baaeed was the main one but we’ve had a few others that did us very proud. The team did us proud full stop.

“We couldn’t beat Charlie unfortunately, he was a bit too strong for us.

“It was disappointing not to be champion after the year we had, but Charlie was too strong and the fact that we beat the rest by £700,000 is a huge compliment to the people who work for us here. You can’t complain – we had a great year – and I’m not complaining either.”

Haggas’ season could have been even better if it was not for injuries to key members of his string at various points of the season.

German 2000 Guineas winner Maljoom was an unlucky loser in the St James’s Palace and looked ready to peak in Group One company. But he was stuck on the sidelines following Royal Ascot, while similar applied to the smart Showcasing filly Sense Of Duty who looked a sprinter to follow when winning her first three starts of the campaign before meeting with a setback which would end her season.

Maljoom, here winning at Kempton in April, could prove to be a Group One performer when returning next season
Maljoom, here winning at Kempton in April, could prove to be a Group One performer when returning next season (John Walton/PA)

However, the Newmarket-based handler hopes both will be back next season as he begins to look forward to the great reset on January 1 and bringing through the new prospects that could fulfil the void left by Baaeed and Addeybb who have bowed out of active service.

“We had a few injuries like everyone does which stifled some progress and hopefully they should be back next year,” Haggas continued.

“Maljoom was never quite right after Royal Ascot and missed the rest of the season. Sense Of Duty went wrong after easily winning a Group Three at Newcastle and Aldaary fractured his cannon bone and he is a good horse too – he only ran the once and won easily.

“Hopefully they will all be back next year and we have a nice horse called My Prospero to look forward to as well.

“We’ve said goodbye to a few and a few real stalwarts, obviously Baaeed, and Addeybb has also been retired.

“But we lose them every year and we hope that although our two-year-olds were not quite as strong this year, there will be something among them that will develop just like My Prospero and Maljoom did.

“We’re in a good position.”

Haggas can look back with pride on Baaeed – the ‘all-round package’

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William Haggas credits Baaeed as having a “marvellous temperament” and the “all-round package” when reflecting on his stewardship of the superstar during the 2022 season.

Having become only the second horse to down Palace Pier when winning the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in his final start at three, hopes were high the Shadwell-owned colt could become the sport’s flagship name when he returned to the track at four.

And Baaeed met those expectations with style to become undoubtedly racing’s brightest star during the 2022 Flat season.

He continued his unbeaten streak throughout his first four outings of the campaign, producing breathtaking displays at Newbury, Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood, before rubber-stamping his career with a statement victory when upped to 10 furlongs in the Juddmonte International at York.

Although unfortunately beaten in his final outing at Ascot on British Champions Day, Haggas is in little doubt that he oversaw the career of a once-in-a-generation performer and one whose achievements stand equal to some the very best equine talent to step foot on a racecourse.

Jockey Jim Crowley, owner Sheikha Hissa Hamdan Al Maktoum and trainer William Haggas with Baaeed on day two of the Qatar Goodwood Festival following the colt's win in the Qatar Sussex Stakes
Jockey Jim Crowley, owner Sheikha Hissa Hamdan Al Maktoum and trainer William Haggas with Baaeed on day two of the Qatar Goodwood Festival following the colt’s win in the Qatar Sussex Stakes (Steven Paston/PA)

“I’ve said it all along that he had a marvellous temperament, which is half the battle when you have a good horse,” said the Newmarket-based handler.

“He had a will to win and he was very easy to handle, he wasn’t difficult in any way. He was very sound and very genuine. He had lots of ability sure, but then lots of horses have ability and few have the all-round package that he had.

“There are plenty of horses that never show their true worth, but he did. He was very talented and he proved it.”

Not one for over-confidence and chest-beating bullishness, Haggas found himself front and centre of the racing media’s focus as Baaeed’s exploits transcended themselves on to the sports pages and into the wider consciousness of the sporting world.

That brought a whole new world of pressure to the doors of Somerville Lodge, something Haggas experienced ahead of Royal Ascot when Baaeed was charged with kicking the meeting off with a bang in the Queen Anne Stakes.

“It was a great pleasure to have him,” he continued. “Before the Queen Anne when he was in really good condition I felt not so much under pressure personally, but I felt it.

“It’s what we train for – to have horses that are 1-6 for Group One races like the Queen Anne – but my god it doesn’t make it any easier, because you’ve got everything to lose and very little to gain. Everyone expects you to win.

“But it is never quite that straightforward. Group One races are very hard to win, you just have to ask any trainer.”

Baaeed was the centre of attention in the paddock before the Juddmonte International
Baaeed was the centre of attention in the paddock before the Juddmonte International (PA)

Having conquered all at a mile, the next task for Baaeed was to prove his stamina and York was highlighted as the perfect spot to take on the challenge of 10 furlongs.

The stage was set for the horse regarded as the best since Frankel to follow in the Sir Henry Cecil-trained great’s footsteps almost 10 years to the day since his own vintage performance on the Knavesmire.

And Baaeed did not disappoint, to the delight of those making the pilgrimage to York, producing a display that his trainer picks out as his favourite in the 11-race career of the brilliant bay.

Haggas said: “The Juddmonte was fantastic because he took his form to a new level.

“He beat a decent field and beat a very good horse in Mishriff. Who knows if he was at his best but his connections seem to think he was and he beat him easily.

“The way he travelled and the way he appeared on the bridle with a furlong and a half to run was just great.”

That result briefly brought the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe into the equation where the son of Sea The Stars would have had the opportunity to match the exploits of his sire. But the decision was made for the curtain to come down on Baaeed’s career in the Champion Stakes at Ascot.

There was no British Champions Day fairytale though for Baaeed as he got stuck in the Berkshire mud and could only finish fourth to Bay Bridge. Sir Michael Stoute’s underdog playing the roll of party pooper and spoiling the farewell festivities to the disappointment of a deflated Ascot.

But there is no script to sport and Haggas has no regrets about the way one of the great racehorses of his era bowed out.

“I have absolutely none (regrets),” he said. “The only disappointing day was Ascot, but those things happen in horse racing.

“I thought he’d handle the ground but he couldn’t and he just wasn’t the same horse. His work prior to that had been every bit as good as the rest of the season. Everything was set up for a great run, but it just didn’t happen.

“I know My Prospero couldn’t have beaten him at home at all and he finished third ahead of Baaeed in the race. So I don’t think he was at his best that day.”

Now with the dust settled and Baaeed having departed Somerville Lodge to take up residence at Shadwell’s Nunnery Stud ready to embark on his new career as a stallion, the man who came all so close to overseeing a perfect career is looking ahead to the future.

And although admitting to missing his A-star ally, the hunt to find the next Baaeed appears to have already begun.

He added: “Of course (I miss him) but it’s always the way.

“Just like the headmaster who misses his perfect pupil, he moves on and looks on for the next one as soon as he can. It’s what we have to do and it is all we can do.

“I just hope he has a successful career at stud and we can train lots of his children in the future.”

Alice Haynes has sights set on further progress in 2023

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Alice Haynes admits that replicating the results of her first full season as a trainer will be a challenge in 2023.

The young Newmarket handler recorded her 50th domestic winner of the campaign when Silks Pass scored at Southwell on Tuesday, making it 52 overall.

Having previously worked for the likes of Henrietta Knight, Mick Channon and David Simcock, before setting up a successful business breaking in young horses for Roger Varian, William Haggas and Blue Diamond Stud, Haynes took out a training licence in 2021.

Based at the historic Cadland Cottage Stables at the foot of Newmarket’s famous Warren Hill gallops, success has come quickly.

“People say ‘well done’, but I tell them I’ve just made it a lot harder for myself next year!” Haynes laughed.

“We have always tried to up our quality. Why I look forward to next year, from 2021 to 2022, we didn’t have any two-year-olds going through as three-year-olds. They were all sort of fresh stock.

“For next year, I think we have a really nice bunch of three-year-olds and while the yearlings are completely unknown, there looks to be a nice bunch there.”

Following her older horses, particularly on the all-weather, has proved lucrative for punters, her three-year-olds boasting a £28.25 profit to a level £1 stake and older horses a tidy £25.55 profit.

Along with a half-century of winners, she also saw another 81 horses placed from a total of 385 runners, so it is clear something is working.

Lady Hollywood flew the flag, the Amo Racing and Omnihorse Racing-owned juvenile took the Listed Marwell Stakes at Naas in July, Haynes’ first runner in Ireland, and then gave the handler her first Group-race success in the Prix d’Arenberg at ParisLongchamp.

Subsequently fifth to Godolphin’s Mischief Magic in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland, she left Haynes to continue her career in the States.

“Lady Hollywood was a superstar,” said Haynes. “To go to the Breeders’ Cup in really what was my first full year of training, we have to pinch ourselves.

“It is a big thanks to the team and we have a great bunch of supportive owners, who are all working together. You need to have a great working relationship with owners.”

It has not been all plain sailing. There are pitfalls, as she explained: “There have been some big learning curves along the way.

“The biggest thing is bad payers. People don’t realise the lack of support there is for trainers. You have to sometimes take a hit.”

Yet she quickly accentuates the positives and is already focussed on what 2023 may bring.

“What I look forward to, if you have a couple of nice horses, is setting a target and working back from that. I like making a plan for each one and treating each horse is an individual,” she said.

“I would like to think I try to get the best out of our horses and really look forward to unleashing some superstars for next year. It is great having 50 winners, but you want to try to get the better quality winners the whole time.

“You can only win with what you’ve got and you might as well win with what you’ve got. But it has been a phenomenal year, really.”

Who, though, can fill the void left by Lady Hollywood next year?

“There is a lovely Australia filly called Ajyad,” said Haynes. “She has had one start this year, but we have put her away for next year.

“There is another older horse that Amo have moved from one yard to another, Great Max, a miler, who has come over (from Irish trainer Michael O’Callaghan) and I’m really looking forward to him next year. He’s having a change of scenery and we are just trying to tweak and get the best out of him.

“He’s rated 100, so it’s great to have horses of that calibre and to try to produce horses of that quality yourself, not necessarily get them off other people.”

Steady improvement, rather than lofty goals, is the aim for next year. She added: “This year we set a target of 30, that changed to 40. We will have to sit down and make a target for next year. We’ll say 60 winners and we’ll work even harder to try to meet that target.”

Crisfords eager to test Wigmore Street potential

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Ed and Simon Crisford expect to learn a lot more about Wigmore Street after his second run next month.

The American Pharoah colt made a striking debut at Kempton recently, sprinting five lengths clear in the closing stages against some well-bred rivals.

A general 33-1 chance for Derby glory, the Michael Tabor-owned Wigmore Street will run under a penalty before potentially having his sights raised.

“He won well, but he’s still quite a raw horse,” said joint-trainer Ed Crisford.

“I think we’ll definitely give him another run on the all-weather in January under a penalty and we’ll take it from there.

“We’ll learn a lot more about him on his second run, so we’ll see how we get on and then we can make a plan.

“It was a little bit to do with the ground why he wasn’t out (on turf), but a lot of horses just take time because they are so weak.

“In the middle of the summer, sometimes you’ve just got to be patient and he was one of those that was showing signs he was a little bit backward, so we gave him that time.”

Magical Cue Card was one of jumping’s brightest stars

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Cue Card was a tremendous servant for the Colin Tizzard stable. He retired from racing in 2018, and here we look at five magical moments from the hugely-popular chaser’s amazing career:

Ryanair Chase (Cheltenham, March 2013)

Cue Card and Joe Tizzard in full flight on the way to glory in the Ryanair Chase
Cue Card and Joe Tizzard in full flight on the way to glory in the Ryanair Chase (David Davies/PA)

Surprise 40-1 winner of the Champion Bumper in 2010, Cue Card had been beaten at the next two Festivals but had his day again as he put up a game front-running performance in the hands of the trainer’s son, Joe Tizzard, to win the Ryanair in authoritative fashion by nine lengths from First Lieutenant.

Betfair Chase (Haydock, November 2013)

Cue Card got the better of a field that included Long Run in his first Betfair Chase
Cue Card got the better of a field that included Long Run in his first Betfair Chase (John Giles/PA)

This renewal attracted a field worthy of a Cheltenham Gold Cup, with stars such as Long Run, Dynaste, Silviniaco Conti, Tidal Bay and Bobs Worth among those in attendance. Cue Card had yet to win over three miles but showed he stayed the trip by making most of the running to score in commanding fashion.

King George VI Chase (Kempton, December 2015)

Cue Card's King George win will live long in the memory
Cue Card’s King George win will live long in the memory (Simon Cooper/PA)

After three failed efforts, Cue Card finally got it right at the fourth attempt in a pulsating finish to the Christmas cracker. He looked nailed on for second place as Vautour approached the winning line in front, but Paddy Brennan got a bit extra out of his mount to land the spoils by a head.

Betfair Chase (Haydock, November 2016)

Another Betfair Chase for Cue Card and Team Tizzard
Another Betfair Chase for Cue Card and Team Tizzard (Anna Gowthorpe/PA)

Cue Card returned to his best to claim a third win in this feature on Merseyside after defeats in his two previous races with a dominant performance. It did not look easy beforehand as he had to contend with Coneygree, but he brushed the 2015 Gold Cup hero aside as he romped home by 15 lengths.

Ascot Chase (Ascot, February 2017)

Cue Card gets the better of Waiting Patiently at Ascot
Cue Card gets the better of Waiting Patiently at Ascot (Julian Herbert/PA)

Put in his place by stablemate Thistlecrack in the King George, Cue Card hit back in style as he followed up his win in this race four years earlier. The 11-year-old outclassed the opposition with a fantastic display. He bounded clear in the straight to trounce Shantou Flyer by 15 lengths to register his ninth Grade One triumph.