Betfred Bowl Chase

(Grade 1)

CUE Card, the most popular steeplechaser of the post Kauto Star and Denman era, was another hugely popular and impressive winner on a day when those prepared to bet at short prices enjoyed another lucrative afternoon.

Colin Tizzard’s 10-year-old (6/5 favourite) won the Betfred Bowl so easily that is was hard to see why anyone ever doubted his stamina over three miles and beyond.

He hit the ninth when racing a little way off the pace as Don Poli and Djakadam cut out the running, but went on three from home. It was all perfectly straightforward afterwards as he eased some 12 lengths clear at the last, settling for a margin of nine over Don Poli as Paddy Brennan eased him right down.

Given that the runner-up and third-placed Djakadam had also filled those places (the other way round) in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, some will conclude that Cue Card was unlucky there.

Quite why Brennan drove him between horses so far from home, with unfortunate consequences, is hard to understand. Of course, Cheltenham is a much stiffer track than Aintree and there was the better part of a furlong and a half further to travel, so nothing can be taken for granted, especially as Don Cossack was a most authoritative winner.

What is certain is that Cue Card stays extremely well these days and he also handled easy ground here with no problem at all.

“I’ve been saying all season that he is in the form of his life and he showed it again today,” Tizzard said. “I think we might have won the Gold Cup but you have to jump the fences and he didn’t do that. We’re not stopping yet, we’re going to Punchestown!”

If Cue Card takes on Don Cossack again and Annie Power is there as well, the exit roads from Dublin should be jammed before lunch-time.