BETWAY BOWL CHASE

(GRADE 1)

IT would be fair to say that many in the packed crowd on Aintree’s opening day were hoping to see Cue Card complete a hat-trick in the Grade 1 Betway Bowl Chase. However, they ended up cheering a new hero as Lizzie Kelly and Tea For Two denied the gallant old horse in a thriller. The verdict was a neck, with Smad Place 15 lengths away in third.

This was the biggest victory claimed by a female jumps rider in Britain and to achieve it Kelly had to engage in a protracted battle with Paddy Brennan all the way up the straight.

To those who insist that strength is all important, she matched her rival in that respect but also kept Tea For Two perfectly balanced in the dying strides. It was an outstanding effort.

None of the first six in the Cheltenham Gold Cup reappeared here. Cue Card was still in with every chance when coming down three out in that race, while Tea For Two unseated Kelly early on. The pair had finished in close proximity when second and fourth to Thistlecrack in the King George and, on that basis, Thursday’s winner was attractively priced at 10/1 with Cue Card sent off the 2/1 favourite.

Bristol De Mai, equipped with ear plugs, made the early running with Silviniaco Conti taking over until the 13th. They were soon toiling, however, while well-fancied Empire Of Dirt was pulled-up lame before three out.

Cue Card took over as Silviniaco Conti weakened, but was being hard driven and Tea For two loomed alongside before taking over between the last two fences. A length to the good with a fine leap at the final obstacle, he might have come clear but Cue Card is nothing if not game and answered Brennan’s calls to harry him all the way to the line. It was a fine spectacle, with the crowd thrilled.

“My lad is as brave as a lion and you only had to look at him at the last,” Kelly enthused. “He managed to find enough energy to pick himself up and go long. I didn’t have a lot left but neither did Cue Card. Coming down at the second in the Gold Cup meant he could run here, so in the end it turned out to be a good thing.

“I’d like to have another bash at the Gold Cup and further down the line the Grand National as he jumps very well and stays. I probably didn’t appreciate my first Grade 1 as much as I should have done but this one I definitely will. I have to remember there are a lot of friends and young girls like me who are trying to be jockeys.”

Kelly is the daughter of Jane Williams, who is married to winning trainer Nick, though Mrs Williams has much to do with Tea For Two’s preparation.

“It was 50/50 whether he’d come here today because I felt he’d done enough,” she said. “But he’s been doing a lot of dressage and has been really well, very flamboyant, and we thought we’d give it a shout. He’s an amazing horse and we’re thrilled.”

Colin Tizzard was delighted with Cue Card and there are no plans to retire him, though the main target next year may be the Ryanair rather than the Gold Cup.

Paul Nicholls’ Silviniaco Conti will enjoy retirement after a splendid career and seven Grade 1 triumphs.