Card right on Cue

Cue Card put his King George disappointment well behind him by claiming his first Grade One win over fences in the Betfair Ascot Chase.

Colin Tizzard's stable star looked imperious when winning the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter but failed to see out the three miles at Kempton.

Joe Tizzard set out to make all but his mount was keen and he did not meet every fence on an even keel.

Captain Chris moved up menacingly and was still going well when he made a bad blunder at the second last, handing the initiative back to Cue Card.

The 15-8 favourite was kept up to his work and ran out a six-length winner.

Tizzard snr said: "I'd like to watch it again because it looked to me like Captain Chris was in front when he made the mistake yet Joe said he had another two gears to go for - I'm not so sure about that.

"If Sprinter Sacre wasn't in the two-miler he might go for that but he looks quite frightening.

"He's favourite for the Ryanair and that probably tells a story but he'll stay in the Queen Mother until the last minute.

"I suspect we'll make a late decision. If Sprinter Sacre wasn't in the Champion Chase that would be very tempting, but if he's there on his A game I d have thought we'd go the other way."

Joe Tizzard said: "I'm chuffed to bits, part of my plan was to make sure he got the trip but he's got it well today.

"He must look worse than feels over a fence as he feels like a good jumper and just wants to get on with it.

"I would have thought it would be the Ryanair unless something crazy happened."

William Hill make Cue Card their 4-1 favourite from 5s for the Ryanair.