Cue Card cements his way for the King George VI Chase after winning the Haldon Gold Cup Chase
Disappointments, if any that the connections had to face at the hands of the six-year-old bay gelding, Cue Card, could not have been erased with more dedication and effort that he put in the most recent outing. Colin Tizzard trained favourite entry for the
Grade 2 Sportingbet Haldon Gold Cup Chase (A Limited Handicap) landed the race. With the sweeping success came the over whelming certainty of the connections to race the incredible gelding in King George VI Chase.
One of the most highly regarded trainers in jump racing, Paul Nicholls, had his entry, Edgardo Sol, qualifying as the runner-up after missing the race by a hefty twenty-six lengths.
The chase could not have been raced in a smoother manner, as the 12 fences seemed a piece of cake for the winning team. However, the only challenge that they had to tackle at almost the closing stages of the race was from the rival, Menorah. He was in pursuit
ever since the beginning, but progressed just around the closing.
The stamina of the Philip Hobbs trained, Menorah, gave in just when he was racing right behind the leader, but the irreparable blunder over the last jump cost him the race, and saw him filling in the third position.
The winner, Cue Card, on the other hand, went through the final four fences in the home straight flawlessly.
Trainer Colin Tizzard said: "Watching him today, it makes you wonder why you would ever think of going up to three miles, but Kempton (the King George) has been his target and if he's ever going to get three miles, it will be round there.”
"Pace is just not an issue for him as he was always cruising. He used to tank but he was a lot less fizzy than he normally is on his first run back. When Joe squeezed him up, he was gone."
I honestly haven't given that a lot of thought. He will go somewhere but I don't know where for sure. He might even go for the Betfair Chase yet."
The connections of King’s Theatre’s gelding want for him an outing before the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton next month. An honourable second position in the Grade 1 Arkle, and then an impressive success at Exeter has made him a leading entry
for the racing spectacle next month.
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