Blast From The Past: 2013 Betfair Chase

The 2013 renewal of the Betfair Chase was run on the outer Flat course and advertised as 25 furlongs rather than three miles, casting doubt as to whether it was really run over the stated distance, and it wasn’t the only race at the meeting to be brought into question in that regard, either.

Haydock had `beefed up’ its emaciated and much criticised fences to make them ‘more appropriate for the Betfair Chase horses to jump’, building them an inch and a half taller and a little broader across the top. The changes met with the approval of the top trainers and the course was rewarded with an excellent renewal of the Betfair in which seven of the eight runners were Grade 1 winners.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth started favourite at 15/8, with the previous year’s Betfair Chase winner Silviniaco Conti next at 7/2; the Colin Tizzard-trained Cue Card, who had finished third in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter on his reappearance, was a 9/1 chance under the trainer’s son Joe.

The 2013/14 edition of Chasers & Hurdlers picks up the story:

“Whatever the reason for his Exeter defeat, Cue Card was right back to his best on Betfair Chase day. He made most of the running, without going off hell for leather, to account for a field that had been labelled `a mini Gold Cup’ and even `the Gold Cup in all but name.’ Racing with customary enthusiasm, Cue Card jumped impeccably throughout and responded gamely when ridden along two out to assert himself, the manner in which he pulled clear on the run-in suggesting there was some to spare if it had been needed. He won by four and a half lengths and a length and a quarter from Dynaste and Silviniaco Conti, with Long Run fifteen lengths further away in fourth. Both Dynaste and Silviniaco Conti were produced to hold every chance in the home straight until Cue Card pulled away again and, although Bobs Worth had an off-day, the form of the Betfair was top class, the best for any steeplechase all season, including the Gold Cup. Very few horses, by the way, display the versatility that Cue Card could boast after his performance at Haydock, which completed a full house of tip-top performances (achieving a Timeform rating of 175 or more) at distances ranging from two miles to (ostensibly at least) twenty-five furlongs.”

(video courtesy of Haydock Park Racecourse)

Cue Card went on to finish second to a more positively-ridden Silviniaco Conti in the King George VI Chase at Kempton the following month, which turned out to be his only other start that season due to suffering a pelvic fracture the following February.

Cue Card endured a winless campaign the following term, but rediscovered his form in style during a 2015/16 season which included wins in the Charlie Hall Chase, Betfair Chase and King George. After adding yet another win in this race last season, Cue Card – now 11 years old - comes into Saturday’s race as a general 2/1 shot following a mid-race fall in the latest renewal of the Charlie Hall.