Punchestown Festival: Cue Card to collect in Gold Cup

David Metcalf | April 26, 2016

Cue Card looks pure Gold at Punchestown

With Don Cossack sadly ruled out through injury, Cue Card looks a worthy favourite to bag another Grade 1 success in Wednesday’s Punchestown Gold Cup (17:30), which is the centrepiece of the Irish National Hunt Festival.

The 10-year-old Colin Tizzard trained gelding has better than ever this season after undergoing a breathing operation, winning four of his five starts.

After landing the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on his return to action, Cue Card cruised to a seven length success in a Grade 1 contest at Haydock.

Cue Card went on to land the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day by a head from the brilliant Vautour, and was disputing the lead and travelling strongly in the Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival last month when coming to grief three from home.

Authoritative display at Aintree

The son of King’s Theatre had yet to be asked a serious question by jockey Paddy Brennan when disaster struck, and Cue Card showed he was none the worse for that tumble when gaining compensation with success in a Grade 1 at Aintree.

After being held-up, Cue Card made smooth headway to take up the running three out and shot clear to win easing down at the line by nine lengths from Don Poli, with Djakadam a further eight lengths behind in third.

It was an ultra-authoritative display, and it’s hard to envisage Don Poli or Djakadam turning the tables as they had no excuses.