Cue Card pips Vautour in vintage King George battle

LONDON: Cue Card pipped Vautour on the line to land a vintage King George VI Chase at the fourth attempt at Kempton yesterday.

Vautour (3-1) appeared to be set for victory, leading over the last fence and up the run-in only for Cue Card (9-2), under a determined ride by Paddy Brennan, to reel him in to edge the Boxing Day showcase by a head. Don Cossack, the 15-8 favourite, held every chance when falling at the second last.

Cue Card’s previous best showing in the three-mile Grade One was runner-up to Silviniaco Conti, winner of the last two runnings but who only played a bit role this time.

Leading early on, Paul Nicholls’ runner lost his grip on the race down the back straight as Vautour jumped to the front, with Cue Card tracking. Don Cossack was getting ready to launch his bid for glory when crashing out of the picture two fences from home.

That left Cue Card as the only live danger to Vautour with Brennan conjuring up a final stride lunge on Colin Tizzard’s rejuvenated nine-year-old to emerge triumphant after an epic battle.

“This is the best day of my life - it’s truly unbelievable,” said Brennan. “I won’t lie and say that there was a lot more left in the tank, but if anyone can get this horse back to win the Gold Cup, it’s going to be Colin Tizzard.”

Mullins found defeat hard to take. “”We did everything right until the last 20 yards,” the Irish trainer told Channel 4. “He probably didn’t just jump the last as efficiently as he could have, but it was a very brave run and a very brave run by Cue Card - that’s horse racing.” Mullins didn’t leave Kempton empty handed, as his Faugheen set himself up for a defence of his Champion Hurdle crown next March, justifying cramped odds of 1-4 in the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle.

Bouncing back after surprise defeat on his seasonal return at Punchestown, Mullins’ classy hurdler was too quick for The New One in second. Earlier, Lizzie Kelly became the first woman jockey to win a British Grade 1 chase on Tea For Two in the Kauto Star Novices Chase won 12 months ago by Coneygree who went on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup. “Awesome! I thought two fences out I’m going to win,” said the history-making rider.

Kelly’s mother and assistant trainer Jane Williams said: “I’m thrilled for her.

“It’s important for girls to make it in racing and we set out to try to prove girls can win Grade Ones.” —AFP