2012 result

racing_news/

Cue Card Takes Ascot Chase Gold
16/02/13

1 Cue Card 15/8F
2 Captain Chris 11/4
3 Ghizao 12/1
6 ran Distances: 6l, 1½l, ½l
TIME 5m 36.30s (slow by 28.30s)

Colin Tizzard's stable star Cue Card put his King George disappointment well behind him by claiming his first Grade One win over fences in the Betfair Ascot Chase.

Cue Card
© Racehorse Photos

The 15-8 favourite looked imperious when landing the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter, but failed to see out the three miles at Kempton in testing conditions.

Joe Tizzard set out to make all, but his mount was keen and he did not meet every fence on an even keel. Captain Chris moved up menacingly and was still going well when he made a bad blunder at the second-last, and Cue Card was kept up to his work to run out a six-length winner.

Tizzard snr said: "I'd like to watch it again because it looked to me like Captain Chris was in front when he made the mistake, yet Joe said he had another two gears to go for - I'm not so sure about that.

"If Sprinter Sacre wasn't in the two-miler he might go for that, but he looks quite frightening.

"He's favourite for the Ryanair Chase and that probably tells a story, but he'll stay in the Queen Mother until the last minute.

"I suspect we'll make a late decision. If Sprinter Sacre wasn't in the Champion Chase that would be very tempting, but if he's there on his A game I d have thought we'd go the other way."

Joe Tizzard said: "I'm chuffed to bits. Part of my plan was to make sure he got the trip, but he's got it well today. He must look worse than he feels over a fence as he feels like a good jumper and just wants to get on with it.

"I would have thought it would be the Ryanair unless something crazy happened."

William Hill make Cue Card their 4-1 favourite from 5s for the Ryanair.

Betfair Ascot Chase
£150,000 added, 5yo plus, 2m 5f 110y, Class 1
6 ran
Going: Soft