Cue Card Ante-Post Favourite For Betfair Chase

It`s tight at the head of the ante-post market for Saturday`s (22nd November, 3:00) betfair Chase at Haydock Park. Last year`s winner Cue Card is the current favourite for the marathon 25 furlong feature race though will have to hold off such esteemed competition as betfred Bowl winner Silviniaco Conti and Ryanair Chase victor Dynaste. A total of nine runners are currently slated for the weekend`s jumps highlight.

The 3/1 favourite with most bookmakers, Cue Card failed to record a victory on his first appearance of 2014 last month. Setting off for the 17 furlong trip as the 13/8 favourite, the eight year old finished fourth of seven and ten lengths behind winner God`s Own in a class one at Exeter. Tom George`s entry recovered from a mistake at the fourth out to win five lengths clear of his nearest rival whilst Cue Card had nothing in reserve as he limped home after struggling with top weight in the handicap.

Trainer of the front-running gelding Colin Tizzard was far from disappointed with the run, however, telling Sporting Life that the performance mimicked the horse`s run prior to winning the Haydock highlight last year.

`He`s come out of the race absolutely fine and I thought it was a goodish performance.` The Dorset-based trainer told the online publication.

`It was always going to be very difficult giving all that weight to specialist two-milers and you have to remember that he`d been off for 11 months.`

Tizzard summarised by saying, `He was right there with them until two out and I think, when you consider all the relevant factors, it was a perfectly good run in the circumstances.`

Another beaten favourite in their first run of the season was this weekend`s 7/2 (betfair, Titanbet) chance Silviniaco Conti. Paul Nichols` evens favourite finished behind four of this Saturday`s rivals in the Charlie Hall Chase (a grade two, three mile and a furlong chase) at Wetherby on the first day of November.

The former 2013 King George victor couldn`t make all as Noel Fehily`s mount was passed by eventual winner Menorah and placed Taquin du Seuil as well as also-rans Double Ross (20/1 - Numerous) and Medermit (25/1 - betway) from four out.

Conti will be suited by cut in the ground with Nichols bound to be performing a rain dance prior to Saturday`s feature. Four to one (betfair) shot Dynaste won`t be so keen on precipitation with his last two wins coming on good. A star of the David Pipe stable, Dynaste will be looking to record his first win of the season after grabbing the Ryanair Chase in March and recording a second behind Silviniaco Conti in April`s betfred Bowl.

The grey missed runs in both Aintree`s Old Roan Chase and Wetherby`s Charlie Hall to further prepare for the Haydock encounter. His last run at the track was back in the same race last year where he finished four lengths behind Cue Card in second place. His last win at the Lancashire course was as a five year old in 2011.

Wetherby distance winner Menorah is 8/1 with a number of bookmakers to make it two from two at the weekend. Phillip Hobbs` entry failed to pick up a win until his penultimate ride of last season, capturing Sandown`s Oaksy, though a comprehensive four length victory over a quality field at Wetherby will give connections hope of another good run. Runner-up Taquin du Seuil opened his account by missing out on a place in a five-strong field at Newton Abbot. A litany of jumping errors saw Jonjo O`Neill`s mud-lark a full 24 lengths behind Wonderful Charm in first position and 21 behind favourite Colour Squadron in second.

An improved performance behind Menorah has seen his price for the betfair Chase set at 7/1 with ladbrokes. Also lining up on Saturday are Kim Bailey`s Denman Chase victor Harry Topper who can be backed at 16/1 with Betfair, Betvictor, Skybet and Stan James and outsider The Giant Bolster who`s available at 40/1 with betway.

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18/11/2014     © Frixo 2026