Kempton Tip: Cue Card

Having backed Cue Card without fail for the last two seasons I made the cardinal sin of opposing him in the Betfair Chase and boy did he make me look silly.

The 7-year-old put in an exhilarating performance to win by 4.5 lengths, registering the highest Racing Post Rating (180) of his career. On the back of that win he is a worthy favourite for the King George (3.10 Kempton), and it is a surprise he isn’t much shorter in the betting.

Last month’s renewal of the Betfair Chase was one of the strongest ever staged and I can’t see how Dynaste, Silviniaco Conti or Long Run can turn around the form. There was controversy after the race that the actual distance was shorter than the 3m1f advertised but the King George is run over 3m on a sharp track so excuses from Haydock won’t hold sway at Kempton.

In last year’s Boxing Day showpiece Cue Card struggled to jump out of the heavy ground, eventually finishing fifth, but with the going currently soft and no more significant rain forecast he shouldn’t be inconvenienced.

The big danger looks like Al Ferof but he’s yet to race in the UK beyond 2m4f and his price is plenty short enough for a horse who hasn’t scaled the heights of Cue Card.

*Best Odds Guaranteed – Coral
Back Cue Card with Coral as they are best price and offer Best Odds Guaranteed. If the starting price (SP) is bigger than the current price, you get paid at the bigger SP.